The Ledge

 The Ledge

-Ishana Ghosh

It's no wonder, that as you stand

in front of the mirror,

with tears in your eyes,

shaking as the rage courses through

your veins; blaming them all

for your tears and the misery,

you think it's all their fault,

Or if you're the other type of person,

you think all fault's yours

and yours alone, to be precise.

I won't say you're wrong,

or your insecurities are all a bluff,

or that you're imagining it all.

What I'll say is that you've been deceived

and you've forgotten

that each being that walks the earth,

with a heavy network of neurons 

filling their skull, is a human being,

each one out there is like you and me,

trying hard to survive this day,

trying desperately to find who they are,

and alive is what each one's trying to stay.

You think those bullies are the bad guys?

What if they too, go home

and cry every night?

Insecurities and troubles? Who said

they're immune to all that, just because

they know how to act tough.

Today you're hurt by that person's words

maybe, and it aches your heart,

but remember, that he or she isn't 

lucky enough, to be born

into this world as a human,

and not have it tough.

The life that we're living

has meaning or not, we don't know

but we know, that to live,

means pain and suffering and despair

exists, for each one that we know.

And mind you, I'm not trying to pass off bullying

as something that's to be accepted,

nor should a vicious tongue

be allowed free passage in our terrain,

and it is not so, that

crying out of pain is insensibility,

but it is to be remembered

that's its not your fault or theirs,

it's just how our brain works,

it's just so that we humans aren't Gods.

So, lash out when you see injustice,

fight back when you or anyone else

has been wronged,

cry when you've been hurt,

but also remember, to hold out your shoulder

to anyone who needs it,

because in this world full of people,

not everyone will understand,

not everyone will pay heed to

what you're feeling or even, saying.

But don't judge them because of that.

Who knows if they're trying to figure out

what life is all about,

just like you're trying to.

All of us are so busy, clamouring

for the footholds to place our feet on,

to feel better and happy always,

that we're oblivious to the sounds

that echo through this world,

as someone hits rock bottom,

or as someone else barely hangs

from the ledge with one hand,

the other trying desperately to find

another protrusion, another reason

to keep fighting, just as you are.

After all, that's what it means 

to be born as a human being.

And if you do decide to listen closely

and look around, the deafening clamour

might make this endless struggle seem

futile, and you might feel tempted

to let go of the footholds and fall down,

and even if that may be true,

you should remember that life 

is what you make of it,

and you must look at the joy around,

for you must keep living,

the only reason you need for that,

being the fact that you've been born.

___________