False Vanity

False Vanity

P K Routray

The selfless service and true love exhibited by plants to animals

pales the man, the self proclaimed best among the mammals

Can man’s power of tolerance match to that of a tree

when hit by a stone, with dancing branches that gives fruits free.

Man has to learn even from a tortoise the power to withdraw

The learnings from plants, birds and animals in life can save him through.

In art, craft, music and dance

excel the birds, animals without proud show-off but with grace.

Exaggerated is man’s exhibition of ego and vanity

even though compared to these lesser mortals man has caliber scanty.

Even with his proud intellect and unchallenged power of memory

rarly finds the man happiness, peace and bliss of life - a sordid story.

The ornaments of life like silence, meditation and living in harmony

only found in deep forest with all but devoid of wise man’s maddening company.