And If I Shall Fail

And if I shall fail
What shall my merits be
To scrutinizing eyes
That measure in degrees,
That tool out faculties
To balance risk,
In and out the
Flow of factories
Is brisk
And efficient
Clad with a guarantee
Prepackaged and predescribed,
What would you have of me?
I strolled in from a lonely gaze
Of a rose across the street
And follow out its fleeting fragrance
Though you’re interviewing me.
I listen to your seconds cry
The countless days
You’ve sweated off your life here
So you could get away.
And I wonder why I strive for this
When you would rather be
In a coastal Spanish village
Fishing on the sea.
And I wonder why I strive for this
When I would rather be
A pleasant peasant with a pen
Under a margarita tree.
But then how could scrutinizing eyes
Look in luxury
At a few letters in a frame
To measure me?

Copyright © 2005 Prabhath Avadhanula