The puzzle of the pearl
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I had a pearl, as radiant as light.
Actually, I might’ve had it for long,
Way longer than I knew I did.
But discovering it did me little good.
For I knew not its value,
Neither its use nor its food.
I wondered what to do with my pearl.
I read books, worried to sleep about it
Yet could not crack its mystery.
Some suggested I hide it away,
And never expose it to sunlight.
Others said though that it feeds on light.
Some suggested me to share it with one,
Others, to share with all.
A few suggested I never part with my pearl,
Hold it close to my heart.
And the funniest part is,
Each of them in their own way seemed right.
But now I doubt their advice, I am beginning to doubt them all.
Did they ever have pearls of their own?
And even if they did, did they have one like mine?
Oh how I wish I could try it all with my pearl!
I’ve tried sharing it,
Tried caring for it,
Have let it go and took it back.
At times, it thrilled me no end to part with it
And at others, its touch gave me power,
Gave me peace.
It’s growing old with me now,
It no longer shines like the light,
It might be now having a few scratches too.
Lately, I’ve found it’s changed
It now softly glows in the dark,
Its scratches making patterns
Of the little light it holds in its heart.
Do the imperfections add to its beauty?
Or does its beauty make it imperfect?
I have given up trying to solve its puzzle
Or figuring how it can give me the most.
Are you my gift? Or my curse?
Are you my mirror? Or my nurse?
Are you what makes me me?
Or only what I want you to be?
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April 2019