A devoted pupil of life

“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

There was a time when I thought that I

Was successful, I was soaring high

In my own abilities, I was overconfident

Unable to realize the true extent

Of my skills, the world was my oyster

I was on the upswing of a roller-coaster

And when it hurtled down, as was destined

I was shattered, blown out of my mind

Why I had failed, I could not comprehend

I sincerely wanted to make amends..

In a while things by themselves did improve

Even without my making a different move..

**

That was years ago, but now I know

Upswings and downswings shall come and go

My reactions to success and failure are now

Much less extreme, I have learnt how

I cannot control the events that take place

In my life, but I can certainly face

Them with equanimity, and learn equally

From all of them, consider them impartially

My gurus in life- as I continue to grow

Older, I am humbled by how little I know

About the mysterious ways of the world

Every day it seems a new truth is unfurled

I keep trying to take life in its stride

It will always be a roller-coaster ride!