I went for a walk as the old world crumbled.
A hearse drove slowly past me,
With the deceased journeying for the last time,
Flanked with a wreath spelling out "OM",
Their voice now silenced forever, their forehead so cold,
Nay, their voice now added to the eternal sound of "OM".

I walked on with a heavy heart and with my chest constricted.
Some distance away, I saw a hedge sprouting a row of hopeful young buds.
A young blackbird gleefully bathed in a muddy puddle.
Here, in front of my eyes, a new world was stirring,
And timidly stretching into existence, in no particular hurry,
Unencumbered by the burdens of the past.

My spirits were momentarily lifted,
But equally I grieved for the passing world,
As one would for a lost dear one.
"Live so we may rest, love so we may find peace."
Sighed the dying world.
"I...am…" stuttered the new world, "I AM here."

So many words want to be said,
Calm down, please tarry your flow.
They burst out laughing.
Slow down please.
They taunt me even more.
My pen grumbles; it cannot keep up.

There is one word not in their midst.
The shy one, it is hiding.
It is one word that holds so much,
So much mystery folded in its cloak.
I shine a torch but it hides deeper.
It will come out when it is ready.

Suddenly, my companions slow down,
And glance outside with worry.
Then they shrug and start running around unabated.
They rearrange themselves and spell out
“Life is so short. You take yourself too seriously.”
As I bow to their playful wisdom, my friends scatter around,
And I clumsily try to shepherd them onto the page.

I dreamt a dream that was not mine.
"Stay," said the other dreamers, "it is a nice one."
But I stirred from slumber for the dream was not my own.
"What will you leave except for broken dreams?" they lamented.
I have to bear witness to the truth, I answered.

At the threshold of waking up, I beheld the wheel of death,
Spinning all the while brewing bodies and tormenting souls,
Before spitting them out mercilessly,
Hurling them to smash to the ground.
It was a terrible sight that filled me with dread and anguish.

I could not bear the desolation and hastened away.
I followed a path, to the sound of birds chirping joyously.
Some teetered into view and said unto me,
"Blessed are you who can hear our song,
May it stay with you for the rest of your journey."

I walked on till I came to a house that time had forgotten.
Memories of a different time flickered and came back to life.
I was grateful the path had brought me here.
I pushed the gate and tread an overgrown but familiar path.
I was back home.