Be True To Yourself Poem by Madhav Sarkunde

The frisking fawns
and flying birds are
pleasant to watch -
I often heard
this litany of yours,
but please tell me -
When will you think about
the chains on your feet?

From the point
we are standing,
the lively mountain
is not far away
if we wish to feast our eyes
on the matchless scenery
we must move on boldly
or go back resignedly to the place
where our ancestors rotted.

Calamities are numerous
so are you going to stop living?
Calamities do their jobs, let us do ours
the ones who fear calamities
and stop short, lose opportunities
gifted by life.

I cannot tell you
what I have given you
but I tell you avowedly
that I didn't give you any pains
and that's the only evidence
that I am all happy!