Soon after my first poem, I penned another, which was also published in the high school magazine in 1999. The style is similar -- an inspirational, rags-to-riches tale called (ahem) From Rags to Riches.
But for some reason, I did not have an electronic copy of the poem with me for all these years. So when I went back home to Pune earlier this year, I visited the Loyola High School library and accessed its magazine archives to retrieve this.
Publishing this just so that it's on record, kitsch as it is. I can't fully remember, but I think this was my take on overcoming fate, superstition and excuses to write your own destiny.
From Rags to Riches
by Rahul Venkit
There once was a poor workman
Who would only curse his ill-luck
Towards dreams and fantasies he endlessly ran
For his failures, he simply passed the buck
He seldom ever wondered why
His life was lived deliriously
Until he saw his innocent family cry
And decided to take matters seriously
He reflected only to notice
He would borrow but never lend
Life is more than ignorant bliss
But how to put your entire life on the mend?
It's said old habits die hard
And at first he found it tough
Though from success he was initially debarred
He worked and toiled till his hands were rough
His start may have been pretty dim
Slowly but surely he proved his worth
Success and a better life followed him
Hailing a turnaround, a true rebirth
Now he lives a life trouble free
Discarding fears of ghosts and witches
He is remembered to this day in history
As the man who journeyed from rags to riches
But for some reason, I did not have an electronic copy of the poem with me for all these years. So when I went back home to Pune earlier this year, I visited the Loyola High School library and accessed its magazine archives to retrieve this.
Publishing this just so that it's on record, kitsch as it is. I can't fully remember, but I think this was my take on overcoming fate, superstition and excuses to write your own destiny.
From Rags to Riches
by Rahul Venkit
There once was a poor workman
Who would only curse his ill-luck
Towards dreams and fantasies he endlessly ran
For his failures, he simply passed the buck
He seldom ever wondered why
His life was lived deliriously
Until he saw his innocent family cry
And decided to take matters seriously
He reflected only to notice
He would borrow but never lend
Life is more than ignorant bliss
But how to put your entire life on the mend?
It's said old habits die hard
And at first he found it tough
Though from success he was initially debarred
He worked and toiled till his hands were rough
His start may have been pretty dim
Slowly but surely he proved his worth
Success and a better life followed him
Hailing a turnaround, a true rebirth
Now he lives a life trouble free
Discarding fears of ghosts and witches
He is remembered to this day in history
As the man who journeyed from rags to riches
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