The Goal And The Route Poem by P K Joy

My goal is not anywhere in sight.
None in flesh has ever seen it.
And I’m not sure which is the right route.
It’s almost a blind pursuit.

This race is at my forefathers’ instance.
They said ‘heaven’ is my coveted price.
I’ll get eternal life with peace
And with angels I can live at ease.

This road is rough. It’s full of gutters.
Muddy and dark, its looks give jitters.
Thoughts of further race are raising shudders
Can’t think of it without violent shivers.

I saw my father’s corpse decomposed on the way,
Grandfather’s a few hundred kilo meters away,
And at intervals, forefathers’ dead bodies in decay.
None of them appears to have run the full way.

Hope impels with vigor. It wears out in rigor
Will I also fail? Indeed constantly I fear.
Hope and fear are locked in fierce encounter
Will I too perish? Or get ecstasy forever?

Some co-runners, took to a different route,
Which, they were told, are good and short.
No means to check on what they say.
I wouldn’t follow yet hearsay.

Co-runners had been falling one by one.
None looks at the fallen. They’re forever gone.
All minds are set on attainment of heaven
What happens to others is no one’s concern.

To stop this blind race by many a tedious route
Some heaven-returnee must appear in flesh and meet
The men, and describe the goal and the route,
With a view to ending this otherwise endless plight.

Or, men should make this world the longed-for heaven,
By taking the smooth route of love for all the men,
And steadfast practice of sincerity and nobility,
Starting from today, without waiting till infinity.