Of Light and Darkness

 Once there lived a little boy,

The son of a noble envoy,

He asked his father a question-

“Why is there day and night?

And not always light?

For without darkness, he rules unquestioned.”

 

The father smiled at the inquiry,

For the question was indeed fiery,

Thinking a moment he said-

“Listen well my son,

Now I shall tell you of the Sun,

Who answered this question using his head.”

 

“Once the Great Sun held a feast,

For that they had slayed a mighty beast.

The gods enjoyed the splendor,

The shining pillars, the ivory thrones,

The dazzling pillars and fountains shone

And so to the golden hall they surrender.

 

They relished the banquet

And joyed for they were unvanquished,

And as they dined, an old man came,

The gods saw the wisdom in his eyes,

They welcomed and offered him rice.

‘Twas then the old man offered eternal fame.”

 

The boy listened now with rapt attention

For the story began making an impression.

The father saw the fire,

He smiled at his child,

For though he was mild,

It was knowledge and fame he most desired.

 

The story he continued-

“The gods then moved,

And the old man walked to the Lord of Day,

And to him he posed a question,

Which was most vexin’

For in philosophy its answer lay

 

 ‘Why is it that day gives way to night?

Why can’t there be eternal light?

Why let the cold darkness linger,

While all can be at the mercy of day?

I ask this question to all I may,

Oh Kingly Light-Bringer!’

 

The gods marveled at this inquest,

And all wanted to be crowned the best.

Yet to no mind the answer came.

They all sat thinking and discussing,

Yet no response was forthcoming.

And all egos it did maim.

 

 

It was then that the Sun remembered,

Wisdom he heard about the ember.

The silenced the golden hall,

‘Without darkness what is light,

How will they know day’s might?

For only when darkness falls…

 

Does one appreciate the power the morrow,

For not all that is in shadow a sorrow.

Everything in world plays a purpose-

For without death, life is meaningless,

And without balance the world is a mess.

And such a world would be horrendous.

 

The darkness plays a part in this play of Life,

As there is no peace without strife.

There is no good without evil,

And no happiness without sorrow.

There is no rise without falling low,

No moderate without lethal.

 

It is the nature of the universe,

To add the contradictory verse,

For without one what is the other?

As a journey is naught without choice,

And there is then no use of a voice,

For it matters not thither of hither.’

 

 

 

The court marveled at this truth,

For they learnt nature’s very roots,

The is no destruction without creation,

And contradictions give contrast,

To give the ship of life a mast,

For there is also no meaning to creation without destruction.

 

The old man smiled and transformed,

And around him words swarmed,

The gods bowed before the Embodiment of All Knowledges,

The Dispeller of Ignorance and Lord of Truth.

He spoke – ‘Oh Wise Wing, Sweet-Mouthed,

Your wisdom exceeds most sages.

 

 Oh Fair One, Beloved of the World,

Accept this which was the gift told.

I name you The Lord of Knowledge,

The seer of Truth, the Dispeller of Ignorance.

Accept this crown enhanced,

For you are the greatest of this age.’

 

And thus concludes the tale, my child.”

He said this and smiled.

For he knew his boy began on his path,

And knowledge was his torch,

And lies shall not scorch.

And his father knew in glory he shall bath.

~Shashank.G