आशीर्वचन..

*

May you read

wisdom books

in the spirit of the comics,

and the comics

in the spirit of the wisdom books.

*

When your Water-tap

Leaks, may you care

as if you are paying

for every drop

needed by the citie's source.

*

Be drunk, occasionally,

but not with gin

or whiskey. May the Lord

use you up for ends

beyond your means.

so you know what drunkenness

really means.

*

Whatever you pursue,

let it not be happiness.

May you find it often

resounding

in your normal pursuits.

*

Whenever you worship

the Absolute,

may you remember

all its Relatives.

*

Remember the time--

There's never enough time,

Enjoy the time,

There's is plenty of time.

*

Straighten yourself up

to your full height

and find humility.

It's better there

then lower down.

*

May you solitude

taste good,

and your company

taste good,

like food

when you are hungry.

It's the hunger that counts.

*

God send thee

consolation

when you tear yourself apart

and find Him

missing.

*

Let not your religion,

Mystic doctrines

Or mundane experiences,

Knowledge, ignorance

and strong convictions

co-exist with a cold heart.

*

God grant you trees

to leave live among.

if not in reality

then in imagination,

trees of such variety

and beauty

that you can't help

loving yourself

among the trees.

*

Of your generation

try to be like one of

the 36 just men

whose destiny

is to redeem the age,

even if you only succeed

in redeeming yourself.

*

Speak out sometimes

and be objectionable

 to and be some people.

Remember, also,

not to object

when someone else

obeys the same rule.

*

May you be

Poet, painter. scholar,

Thinker, musician,

even if you create nothing that matters

except your life, which too

has to be created.

(निसीम इजेकिल की पेंग्विन से प्रकाशित, संकलित कविताओं से)