Quest (Poem)

From: Frosty Breath in the Wilderness
by Padma Devkota

Part IV: "Quest"
3.

Teacher:

What a glorious morning this is.
Students, earth has not anything to show
more fair than this mighty heart
of a growing civilization.

First Student:

What civilization, Sir?

Teacher:

        Waking up
is the finest moment of life.
Once awake, human intellect
cuts through ignorance like a knife
and serves the main dish of values
that build up civilizations.

Second Student:

Is value a dish, Sir?

Teacher:

        Values
and priorities are the basis
of systems that must function well
to maintain civilization.
When we watch the sunrise, we see
that nature too obeys all rules
to maintain her holy practice
of eternal regeneration.

First Student:

Is not nature uncivilized?

Teacher:

Only those who break rules do not
promote civilization.
Those who break rules and upturn values
create their own demonic worlds.

Second Student:

And which is better, Sir?

Teacher:

        Better?
That I do not know. But the best
is to follow the morning sun
like a lover, to yearn for it
throughout the night, to take delight
in its presence and to say,
"Sun, may you teach me to wake up
each morning, to brighten others
like you brighten all, and to shed
the light of life upon this world."

First Student:

Sir, what is "the light of life"?

Teacher:

It is not smashing peoples' shins
or quartering off all their limbs,
nor even hurting them with words.
The light of life shines best where we
care for each other's happiness
and tread with sensitive steps the ground
where people's hearts are strewn around,
for hearts are living, hearts are quick
to softest brush of voice and tone.
Of course, we need this crowd on earth;
"Beyond all this, the wish to be alone."