The Boatman And The Scholar Poem by Rodolfo Martin Vitangcol

LET ME SHARE WITH YOU ONE LOVELY STORY
that I heard from someone at a party.
It recounts of two men moving afloat—
a scholar and a man who rows the boat.

ALONG THE JOURNEY, A LEAF WAS FLOATING;
the scholar saw it and asked him rowing,
"Boatman, what can you say about the trees?
Oh, how they've served man through all centuries! "

THE BOATMAN REPLIED WITH A SHAME THAT'S SLIGHT:
"Sorry, sir, but I am no read, no write."
The scholar rejoined, sounding like a gripe,
"Then you have wasted one-fourth of your life! "

IN A WHILE, THEY CAME TO A SHALLOW PART;
there underneath, rocks can be seen in part.
Of them, the scholar asked the ferryman,
"What can you say about the earth, the land? "

THE ROWER, UNPERTURBED, GAVE AN ANSWER,
"I know nothing of what you're asking, sir."
Bored, the scholar said, intending no strife,
"You've already wasted half of your life! "

DARKNESS FELL AND STARS SHOWED UP IN THE SKIES;
the scholar looked at them with dreamy eyes.
Though not expecting, he ventured again,
"Know anything about stars, the heaven? "

GRACIOUSLY, THE BOATMAN GAVE AN ANSWER,
"Nothing, sir, except to ply the river! "
Thwarted, the scholar blurted out a swipe,
"You've already spoiled three-fourths of your life! "

LOST IN DISCUSSION, BOTH GOT WHILED AWAY;
where they ought to land, they had skipped away.
And now they're heading for a waterfall;
both must quickly jump off, lest they're dead ball.

THIS TIME THE ASKING CAME FROM THE BOATMAN,
"What do you know about swimming, learned man? "
He said, "None! " Diving, boatman cried that's rife:
"Then you have wasted the whole of your life! "

IN LIFE, YOU MAY NOT KNOW BIOLOGY,
archaeology, or astronomy.
In the grand scheme of things, they mean nothing;
what counts—you have the right skills for living!

Amen!

Copyright © 2018
Rodolfo Martin Vitangcol
All Rights Reserved