by Tabish Nawaz
Tabish’s poem is about the dual nature of journeys. One that takes place on the surface, and another that takes us to our own selves, and helps us understand the higher purpose of our lives. The poem highlights that even though death is inevitable, it is important to set a destination beyond it and make the journey of life a meaningful one.
Let’s remember
Throughout our lives
We’re on our way
Toward death.
Each day we travel
Only a little
And think
We were always at rest
Like someone sleeping throughout
The journey on a train.
Let’s change this
Let’s take the travel
To somewhere else
Let’s settle someplace else.
From the streets spread on earth
Let’s carve paths as such
Where by merely walking
We make mornings
From nights,
Destinations
From paths.
Let’s not waste our wanderlust
Let’s not only breathe
And run out of it
Let this life
Feel the journey
Let the traveller
Feel the road
Let’s travel to life before
We meet death.
(The poet dedicates this poem to his father.)
Tabish Nawaz is a Postdoctoral Researcher living in Beaumont, Texas. His poetry, short stories and articles have appeared in The Conversation, The Bangalore Review, Indian Review, Temper Literary Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, eFiction India and Financial Express. His poem “Nothing Survives” is forthcoming in The Bangalore Review. He blogs at https://tabish-madmumblings.blogspot.com
