If I were to ask…

If I were to ask, who you are,
would you know—an illusion,
a shadow, an encased soul
or a prisoner of certitudes?

I tried to answer but lost. Maybe you won’t.

If I were to ask what love is,
would you know—a smile, a touch,
some trust, hormones, patience,
pots of money or pots of pain?

I tried to answer but lost. Maybe you won’t.

If I were to ask why we are born,
would you know—to love, suffer,
create, learn, experience, grow, or
to eat, sleep and make merry?

I tried to answer but fumbled. Maybe you won’t.

If I were to ask why we don’t fly,
would you know? This time I found
the answer—who says I don’t fly…
I fly in my dreams, thoughts, words,
anger, and other people’s perception.

Do you also?

If I were to ask what fear is,
would you know—is it cowardice or
lack of conviction, make-believe or
real, caution or simply fuel to
rev up the engine called you?

I tried to answer but couldn’t. Can you?

If I were to ask what an illusion is,
would you know—is it a mirage or
weak eyesight, deception or false
impression, misconstrued reality or
something I just want to believe?

I believe I’m an illusion. What are you?

If I were to ask why we pray,
would you know—for inner peace or
fear of retribution, to fulfil a good,
dreadful or crazy wish, atone for
our sins, out of pure innocent faith, or
because I don’t know any other way?

I tried to answer but failed. What do you say?

If I were to ask why we smile
when we want to cry, would you know—
to appear strong, to not make a scene or
display emotions, to keep nosy people away,
ego, self-preservation, or is it just to confuse everyone?

I tried to answer but couldn’t. Can you?

If I were to ask what god is,
would you know—a prop for our emotional fragility,
a concept, promise, faith, infinity,
you, me, and the universe or
maybe nothingness?

I tried to answer but couldn’t. Maybe you can!

If I were to ask why
things don’t go our way,
would you know—to teach, humble
or protect, to add an element of
unknown, thrill or unrest,
or is it simply to bring
a new twist in our life’s tale?

I tried to probe but it went awry.
Can you investigate?

 

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