Sannyasi

We live in a world of entitlement

Where everything is expected

Material things are our enjoyment

Emotional well being is neglected

To appreciate, sacrifice is required

Gain by loss is driven

After death, Christ new life acquired

Ganesha a new head was given

When even hope has lost its way

And you have to look up to see distress

Until all you have, you give away

There is nothing you will possess

Odin tore out his right eye

So all wise he would be

Not so much as a word, Job did cry

Despite all of his misery

To reignite ashes now grown cold

For the phoenix to raise and fly

You must be strong, even bold

You need an internal eye

Still not enough, further fuel is needed

Compassion, charity and more still

Avarice, gluttony and envy defeated

Take from your mouth to feed who wish you ill

Putting oneself behind all others

Not judging a single one

In one's breast the love of mothers

To not even an enemy shun

Brutality, venality, or morality

Choose wisely what you're remembered for

Sacrifice guarantees immortality

As your life's final encore

Author's Note

a Brahman who having attained the fourth and last stage of life as a beggar will not be reborn, but will instead be absorbed into the Universal Soul

Reviews

[Red Brick Keshner]

Our physical and metaphysical imprint is the real legacy that we can leave behind. And legacy is perhaps a type of echo in the future of which we may not always personally partake of. The feeding from one's mouth those "who wish you ill" is such a striking thought and concept. We draw from an internal well in a world where we are taught and encouraged, even coerced to draw from outside of us. More's the pity.

[Soren]

Thank you Red for your most welcome and insightful response. If this world is ever to change, it is up to us to make the change.

[Ken Simm.]

Yes, how to choose a life from many . What we need/ want to work for at our ends. Spectacularly written in wisdom.

[Soren]

Thank you Ken I deeply appreciate your review and most kind words

[Chris Shaw]

Yes that word entitlement surely sums up what many expect these days. Many want something for nothing. Not prepared to work hard for it even, but to expect it to fall in their hands. Material wealth seems to count for much while emotional well being appears to count for little. The advance of technology and social media have fueled this. Maybe we have become greedy and uncaring in comparison to our parents and grandparents. A thoughtful write Soren.

Chris

[Soren]

Thank you Chris for your review and insightful response it is most appreciated

[John the Baptist]

This is a high minded philosophy, Soren, but I fear a life of unremitting sacrifice would render one psychotic. There comes a time when you must take care of yourself, too.

[Soren]

Thank you John, yes people are not ready for this unfortunately and one does need to take care of the basics but overstatements are often used to stretch us beyond our lazy limits. We so badly need a social revolution to catch us up with the technical revolution we have had.

[AYVID N]

I believe in the cycle of karma and rebirth. I think everything is not explicitly stated in the scriptures. But it happens. To escape the wretched cycle of life and death, ad infinitum, it takes a very evolved soul who can take up the cross for the sake of others. A very thoughtful poem indeed. Thank you for the wisdom shared in such finely written words.

[Soren]

Thank you Divya your reviews and comments are deeply valued.

[AYVID N]

You're welcome, dear Soren.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

We have more and more students these days in our classroom who appear to have this attitude of entitlement...we got our blocks knocked off when we were young students if we ever exhibited this attitude.
j.

[Soren]

Times have changed Jacob with people screaming for reparations for injustices they never suffered. The focus is taken off of what is important to that of comfort, greed, and control.

[willweb]

Each sidewalk we feel we deserve is a sidewalk another created with their blood and sweat, yet all we see is what we want at the time, tomorrow the sidewalk may not matter at all just like the labor performed that created it. We are all here, amongst each other...why can't we see that.

[Soren]

Thank you Will for your insightful comment. It is deeply appreciated.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

if only, we could start to love those we hate...and the legacy we leave behind us...what will it be?
Powerful write, Soren.
this is much more than turning the other cheek...this is being active in engaging the ones we shun.
j.

[Soren]

Thank you Jacob I think it will take this to change the world we live in. I do appreciate your reviews and comments they are very insightful