One Life

I have but one life—
Let me enjoy it to the fullest
Let me live well and not simply exist
Let me be free to make rules for myself
Don’t you interfere and pretend to help

I have but one life—
Let me love the lady of my dreams
Let me love my country and all human beings
Let me love the nature, those stunning scenes
Oh! selfish world—you don’t know what love means

I have but one life—
Let me read all the beautiful writings
Let me relish the magnificent paintings
Let me be a part of all those before I vanish
Don’t deprive me of those moments that I shall cherish

I have but one life—
Let me do all the good that I can do now
Let me bring a smile to faces that were sobbing till now
Let me find time to listen to all their worries
Let me indulge myself in answering to their queries

I have but one life—
Let me attempt at bringing peace among nations
Let me see to it that none in the world suffers
Let me dream and see diverse visions
Don’t prevent me from fulfilling these obsessions

– Saswat Pattanayak, Peoples’ Poet
Bhubaneswar, May 1, 1993