A circle, a cycle, the journey of life
Call it what you wish
A day will come
When to dust you return
I’ll guarantee you this
The flowers on your casket
The people that you’ve gained
Will not be a measure of what you’ve done
But how you’ve been humane
The differences in opinion
The grudges silently held
The need to be superior
The compliments withheld
The indifferences and intolerance
Or religion and belief
The ego and the envy
Stealing life’s joy like a thief
Ragged, pain, worn away
From the weight of carrying these
Never a moment of happiness
Of joy, of gratitude, of peace
Turn the pain into purpose
Fill the cracks of hate with love
When empathy replaces ego
You’d be amazed at what it does
A circle, a cycle, the journey of life
Call it what you wish my friends
But when vices replace humane
That’s really where life ends
Ruvanara Prasansani Tilekeratne