The Traveler

The Traveler

O traveler, I saw you going in the direction of winds
I saw you parching in the desert lands
I saw you panting in the mountain peaks
I saw you sailing on the deep waters
I saw you wandering in the forests
I saw you loitering in the streets
I saw you sweating in the hot sunny days
I saw you shivering in the full moon chilling nights
Always seeking something in the void of space ahead
O traveler, what do you seek
O traveler, why you seek

I live in a family, I do a job
What I seek is peace and truth of life
What I seek is truth and joy of life
What I seek is joy and love of life
I seek because the hollow haunts me
The hollow of my very being

I went in the direction of winds
Like a quivering leaf, I went
But could not find what I seek

I went in the deserts, suffered and parched
In my search, I almost lost myself
I returned, to move again in a new direction

I went to the high mountains
They were high and serene
But they did not belong to the life
So i came down to move again

I sailed on deep waters
The vast calm waters scared me
The turbulent waters tried to drown me
I came back, scared and dejected

I went to dense forests
Full of life they were
There was not enough space for me
Alas I was not welcome there
It did not belong to me, and I came back

I went to far away cities
I roamed in the streets, full of people
All saw me with wide unfriendly eyes
I was an outsider, who brought them nothing
I felt shrunk, I lost the comfort, I forgot the search
I came back to get back my comfort, to start my search anew

I went in the direction of sun in hot days
I sweated and exhausted myself
A tree was my immediate search, I forgot my goal
I came back tired and thirsty

I went in the direction of moon in cold nights
Shivering in cold, I moved on till I could
Soon the cold got better of me, I almost freezed
Only search left was for survival
I found a cave and fire, and I survived
I came back

I came back home, dejected and tired
My journeys had brought me pain and sufferings
The goal was never apparent, I will start again

When I arrived, my mother hugged me and cried
She caressed my lean body and sobbed for me
She held me tight and kept wailing
My father stood little away, slyly wiping his tears
My children rushed to me screaming in joy and excitement 
The cow was lowing to welcome me
The dog came out and plunged upon me
Welcoming me with licking and scratching
Then I entered my home
My wife was standing still, behind the kitchen door
Her face showed me anger, pain, pleasure, love and what not
Her tears could not carry the heavy burden of emotions and fell down
I tried to console her, but she would not talk
Quickly she went to the small furnace
To cook something for me, for her beloved enemy who had hurt her badly

I sat down on the floor and mused
This is the place I belong to
This is where I can find my goals
This is where lies the truth of life
This is where lies the joy and love of life
I mistook the fullness of my life for hollow
I mistook the music of my life for loss of peace
I ignored the truth I was privileged with
And sought what is known to no body

A poor man I am who sought in every direction, every where
What was spread around me in my small world
 
By - Nakshatra Singh
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