Take a left where the map says right

Where are we even headed to?

Moving at the speed of light

So numbed down, 

we hardly feel the flight.

Driving around in a maze

Pretending we could trust the map

Handed to us, so we're stuck in this loop, 

wearied out, lobotomized.

Tinted windows never rolled down

Too afraid to let the wind ramble

For it might tell you truths that hurt

Truths you block out, for comfort. 

Never letting the naked eye see

Zombies behind a camera lens

Painting dull frames with pretty hues

Thank God for filters that mask the blues. 

Building walls around you thick and high

Of caste, of colour and injected hate. 

Pointing a gun at the figure ahead

Not knowing it's you on a shadow screen. 

Never the sail fully opened out

Too scared the wind might slow you down

Or take you to waters not marked out

To islands that don't house your tepid towns.

Scared to stop for even just a while

Lest you fall behind on track

What a shame it would be to slack

To not be part of the winning pack. 

But it is a race you can never win

You're always short by a foot, by an inch. 

And if you reach the mountain top

There are higher ones to climb, to scour.

This is a game you can never win

Designed to make you think you can. 

So sit back, relax, 

Roll down that glass

Feel the wind as it knots your hair

Listen to it sing, open your ears. 

Take a left where the map says right

Learn to let go of things you were told to hold tight. 

One day may be you'll reach somewhere

From where you needn't run in despair.

- Ardhra Prakash
 (July, 2019)