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An Escalator

Life is like an escalator 
You climb on, and it moves 
You can't pause it, you can't hinder
But the movement of your legs
Shall become a catalyst 
And when it's the end of the ride,
It doesn't wait; you either climb off promptly,
Or get your slippers stuck at the end of 
The belt.
Nothing can be decided by you,
There's no slow motion here.
Only your balance 
Can keep you on the escalator of life.
You can either skip steps, go through them
Or let time transport you to the right places
At the right pace
But whichever decision you make cannot be
Reversed,
Because climbing up a descending escalator 
Or descending an ascending escalator 
Is a hopeless waste of time, in my opinion.
There is no purpose fearing the end;
No purpose going back to avoid climbing off
The step depends on the way you see the edge;
As a beastly, man-eating monster,
Or a machine, that helps you out.

There are many things you can understand 
From the working of an escalator,
Whether it's about the movement of life, 
Passage of time 
Or about perspective - 
Depends on how you look at it.
It depends on
Perspective - 
Ambivalent, versatile, everpresent 
Perspective.

Comments

  1. ShyamalaMarch 24, 2025 at 11:03 PM

    Kunjuuu!!!!! Excellent da kanna!!! Only you can conjure up such a beautiful poem from something as mundane as an escalator!!! I love your thoughts that you’ve present led as an analogy between life and escalator. As you rightly said, we get to choose the pace of our lives - either rush towards our destination skipping steps here and there or go with the pace that life has in store for us.
    But but but , at times , when you have to get down / reset when you feel you are on the wrong path, it’s ok to go on the opposite side and get down when you still have time , no?!
    Beautifully written da kanna kutty!!
    Love you loads ,
    Shyam aunty

    ReplyDelete
  2. T.SrinivasanMarch 24, 2025 at 11:47 PM

    The way you analyse anything and apply to human life is simply superb Shriyandhaa. ladder and escalator are used for climbing up and comming down still they teach us something which you have understood very well and presented it in your style which is extraordinary. Good . May God bless you
    From
    Pushpa patti

    ReplyDelete

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