Group 1

I saw a tiger in a cage His eyes glinting with rage Something lacking in this page; I sought the advice of a sage Concisely said, no verbiage: A natural law of old age Captivity breeds outrage.

I talked with the waters of the pool Asked them by what command by what rule Are thus encaged yet so calm and cool? The waters remained calm and clear And through their ripples far and near Reflected the sun's golden sphere. One bubble smiled, said look you here Are you so blind? Can you not hear? Laughingly it burst, the vapor so dear Rushed to the sky like a reindeer Clouds were forming, thundering with cheer Rain was pouring, distant and near With a gentle beat upon my ear Some drops fell in the pool, brave, no fear The message was there, obvious, clear Cage is perception, freedom is here.

The Truth is what works, some say A mind frame for which they dearly pay. They create their own prison Invent techniques with their reason To free themselves from their bondage And get out of their self-made cage. And they believe in their technique Even though of madness it may reek; To anyone who'd listen they speak Of this panacea for the meek and weak. But in truth I can forge a chain Shackle my ankle with my own brain In my own mental prison can remain; Although it works, it is insane. In truth a chain is still a chain Whether made by hands or the brain. No matter how much I complain If I build my chain, in it remain, And if I free myself with strain Very soon I'll forge another again. Chain and key truth works just as they say But in truth, it's a recurring way An illusion driving me astray Till I awake to light of day. And for enlightenment pray Embrace Truth as my only way.

On our eternal quest for success Sometimes we create one big mess, We plot, we scheme, we lay a trap Slowly, our vital energies sap, We hunt the game in our trap Another feather in our cap. My question: if hunter traps the game, Is he not trapped just the same? I wonder if bait catches fish Or if the bait is fish's dish. I want to know in this debate Am I the fish, or am the bait?

So many different kinds of cloud Travel the skies, humble or proud; Some clouds glow clean and bright Some are a fluffy shade of white Some are flat, some are gray Some stand in the mighty sun's way Some are gentle, like a thin veil Others vicious, thundering, hail; Different clouds, different shades Made of same water, different grades. Each travels the skies for some time Disperses, unloads, old, or in its prime. We too like clouds, in different shades Of the same essence, in different grades Travel the earth for some time And disappear to the celestial Chime.

Each star has just as much right to be As any, in the skies, as we see Each one is so unique and singular As any other planet, meteor, or star; Each one is born and lives its life's course Then it dies and thus returns to its source. In the scheme of heavens, close or sparse Made of the same essence, unique stars. So it is in the world of human kind Each is unique spark of the Greater Mind. To his own life's tunes, each dances, Facing his constellation of circumstances. In essence though equal, of same frame Each life unfolds with its unique flame.

I heard an Eagle and a Hawk Engaged in an intimate talk Comparing notes in a proud display Of the stories each one could say Of their lives, achievements, glory How high they could fly without worry; Of the speed of their flight And the clarity of their sight; Ascending clouds, descend like a dart And with thermals, making clouds part. Preying upon salmon, rat, and hare With beak and claws their flesh would tear. Engaged in this discussion, hot To adversaries never gave a thought. Suddenly from far out of sight A darting arrow took to flight Pierced the Eagle's mighty wing Angel of Death began to sing. With one glance at the arrow Both Eagle and Hawk got to know. "You win" said Eagle to the Hawk "With your feather this arrow has struck. The feather that once gave you flight That same feather has sealed my plight; Your feather has guided arrow's path Thus the arrow has brought me wrath. " Hawk replied, "My dear friend My feather brought you to your end; But your death is also my plight Your feather will give an arrow it's flight, And one day from far out of sight With my wing, arrow will pick a fight; And that day, I too, shall be struck Eagle feathers shall end the Hawk! How short sighted, how did I not see That what goes forth, shall return to me. "

The clock ticked away As in my bed I lay Is time passing me by? Or is time and endless lie? To understand this I tried, There I sat, laughed and cried Time is an eternal loop Marching on with its troop; Though it seems an endless thread Passing me by in my bed, In cycles time moves on Seasons pass, one by one Until time reaches again The beginning, that first grain; It is only in my brain That I'm subject to time's pain. I am deathless, eternal Time cannot touch me at all.