Ordeal


I HAVE wandered in the forests of the mind

And encountered there erce beasts of prey

Living on natures weaknesses that bind

Our freedom to an animal sway.


Within hard rocks of passion is their den

Invulnerable like a fort,

The strong assaults of the spirit only win

Over their timeless rule a short


Victory and we lapse back into our old

Pit of stark Self-forgetfulness.

Squandering our pittance of a handful of gold,

We pray for heavens omnipotent grace


To lift us from the minds dense slavery,

The bodys inordinate desire:

A way we nd out of their tyranny

Through the ordeal of the hearts re


And, master of our nature, live in the soul

Whose kingdom is the universe:

Mortality no more a beggars bowl

Held up for an alms of laughter and tears!


Page-93