What Does One Wish For

By Paramjit Bakhshi

What does one wish

For one' s offspring?

That there be no suffering!

But that is so untrue

Of our human condition.

That their lives overflow

With rivers of milk and honey

And there be plenty of money

But is that ever enough

For life to have meaning?

I wish for them to be smart

Without ever becoming mean

To meet good with goodness

And trouble with courage.

To live a life of adventure

To find a vocation of choice

And devote time to hone a skill

To love and should they lose

Have the gumption to trust their heart

Again, and again and again.

To be open to life no matter what

It takes away and what it will bring

To find occasion to laugh

And songs to sing.

To steer clear of much seriousness

To value clarity of thought

To neither get sold or buy

Into any creed, or philosophy.

To think with the head

But to live with the heart.

By Paramjit Bakhshi