Jan 2010
YOU ASK ME ABOUT LIFE?
Ayad Gharbawi
October 23, 2009 – Damascus
Shall we speak the truth, or shall we be polite?
People come up to me and tell me about their dreams and hopes and ambitions. I do tell them this: look, the truth is that there is a high probability that you will never, ever reach your ambitions. These are the sad facts of life and I’m not going to lie to you all.
There is another truth I do need to tell you young ones out there listening, or not.
This world is a manic jungle, and in it, there lives just two animals – rabbits and wolves.
Now you can choose to think that your world is made up of lots of other sweet animals, you are just fooling your minds; you are blinding out the real picture out there from your unsuspecting brains.
Do want you want and feel what you may wish – that is not my concern.
Love whomever you think is right for you and live whatever crooked lifestyle you think is the right one for you.
All that is way beyond me.
What I can tell you, in answer to your persistent questions, is that life is not going to be a rosy affair for you – I can assure you of that, I say to you.
You children ask me about heaven and hell and such like questions, and, why I’m kind of surprised here and now - at you all.
Why, hell is right here living and swarming within your minds and existing within your surroundings!
Didn’t you feel all that?
Or, is it denial?
You tell me now, because here I do not know the answer and how can I?
Well, since you all feel that hourly pinch called daily living, get serious about what and where you are living in.
This is no paradise and it isn’t going to get any easier!
And you ask me, why am I speaking sorrowful words?
I am describing the painting you yourselves brought to me; and wasn’t it you, yes you, who did so ask me, “Explain to us the meanings of this odd painting, painted by an anonymous artist?’
And didn’t I tell you, in my response, that you can cook and digest my words in any way you need to, but I will speak what I feel, think and know to be for me and for yourselves.
The painting of life is indeed painted by an anonymous soul, and guess what?
That’s right you’ll never get to know the identity of that painter. And, as you really do know, there are so many scattered minds out there who tell me that no one actually did paint that painting, but never mind them, for myself, because I couldn’t be bored with too many bypaths – not too many, anyway.
But I did tell you that this painting speaks of anguish, despair and its sounds are like a dirge to me. Didn’t I tell you all that? Didn’t I repeatedly warn you and didn’t I repeat unto your minds that this haggard, crusty painting tells me of anguish to be born again and again here on this earth of yours?
So, do not be shocked anymore.
Realize that your few decades on this earth shall be torment true.
Do not believe in an otherwise.
For if you do, you will be a fool – or, a rabbit.
And so you must bear the consequences.
Now does that mean that you - who are the vast majority - are to give up on your ambitions?
No, of course not.
All I am saying to you is that you must always be aware of the terrain facing you and you must always know who your enemies are.
Go out and live out your lives with the full awareness of your surroundings – that is what I believe you need to be fully aware of.
Ayad Gharbawi
Ayad Gharbawi
October 23, 2009 – Damascus
Shall we speak the truth, or shall we be polite?
People come up to me and tell me about their dreams and hopes and ambitions. I do tell them this: look, the truth is that there is a high probability that you will never, ever reach your ambitions. These are the sad facts of life and I’m not going to lie to you all.
There is another truth I do need to tell you young ones out there listening, or not.
This world is a manic jungle, and in it, there lives just two animals – rabbits and wolves.
Now you can choose to think that your world is made up of lots of other sweet animals, you are just fooling your minds; you are blinding out the real picture out there from your unsuspecting brains.
Do want you want and feel what you may wish – that is not my concern.
Love whomever you think is right for you and live whatever crooked lifestyle you think is the right one for you.
All that is way beyond me.
What I can tell you, in answer to your persistent questions, is that life is not going to be a rosy affair for you – I can assure you of that, I say to you.
You children ask me about heaven and hell and such like questions, and, why I’m kind of surprised here and now - at you all.
Why, hell is right here living and swarming within your minds and existing within your surroundings!
Didn’t you feel all that?
Or, is it denial?
You tell me now, because here I do not know the answer and how can I?
Well, since you all feel that hourly pinch called daily living, get serious about what and where you are living in.
This is no paradise and it isn’t going to get any easier!
And you ask me, why am I speaking sorrowful words?
I am describing the painting you yourselves brought to me; and wasn’t it you, yes you, who did so ask me, “Explain to us the meanings of this odd painting, painted by an anonymous artist?’
And didn’t I tell you, in my response, that you can cook and digest my words in any way you need to, but I will speak what I feel, think and know to be for me and for yourselves.
The painting of life is indeed painted by an anonymous soul, and guess what?
That’s right you’ll never get to know the identity of that painter. And, as you really do know, there are so many scattered minds out there who tell me that no one actually did paint that painting, but never mind them, for myself, because I couldn’t be bored with too many bypaths – not too many, anyway.
But I did tell you that this painting speaks of anguish, despair and its sounds are like a dirge to me. Didn’t I tell you all that? Didn’t I repeatedly warn you and didn’t I repeat unto your minds that this haggard, crusty painting tells me of anguish to be born again and again here on this earth of yours?
So, do not be shocked anymore.
Realize that your few decades on this earth shall be torment true.
Do not believe in an otherwise.
For if you do, you will be a fool – or, a rabbit.
And so you must bear the consequences.
Now does that mean that you - who are the vast majority - are to give up on your ambitions?
No, of course not.
All I am saying to you is that you must always be aware of the terrain facing you and you must always know who your enemies are.
Go out and live out your lives with the full awareness of your surroundings – that is what I believe you need to be fully aware of.
Ayad Gharbawi
