Cosmic Splendour

 Cosmic Splendour

When I was seven, waiting for my turn to bat, at my building corridor,

A friend jokingly asked "Have you heard of term -  "cosmic splendour"?

Heard "cosmic"  for the first time, unaware of the term "spendour",

But pulling my leg she was keen to play role of instructor.

"Where do you stay?", "Home" I replied,

Where is your home, "In a building" I cried.

Making face, she continued, "where is your building?", "Street/Taluka" I smiled,

Reciprocating  "where is your street?", "Mumbai", hoping I qualified.

Unexpectedly, "where is Mumbai","Maharashtra" I testified.

"Which nation" came next, "India" I replied.

I thought she was done,  trying to escape, thought I justified,

But she decided not to leave me without being satisfied.

"Where is India?", she asked, "Asia" I classified,

"Where is Asia", without hesitation, "Planet Earth" I specified,

Next one "where is earth", "solar system" I certified,

Where is "Solar system," I gave up now, "Milkyway" she clarified.

Pulling my hair,  "Are you done ?"

"Not yet" she exclaimed, "our conversation speaks a ton"

My friend was out, it was my turn to bat,

But eager to understand her intent, I continued my chat,

Reversely she started, "In this universe, there's a Milkway, which has a solar system, which has a planet Earth which has a Asia as continent, 

which has India,............she went on, it has building which has you,

Understood  "Mr. Intelligent" ?

Still failed to understand term "cosmic splendour" leading to my disappointment.

Several years passed by with a million of experiences,

Introduced to several people and things at events and  places

Of different class and species.

Unable to understand my worth in such a magnificent creation,

But I knew, with time comes maturity so does realization,

Few days back, similar quiz being played by children got me amazed,

I didn't understand its meaning then, the concept did not emblaze.

Do I understand it now, 'not really' as I have other things to chase.

Looking at myself in mirror, many times I gaze,

"What is my real identity in this cosmic spendor?"

One question which always leaves me dazed.

                                                                                                                                       Ankit P  Shingala 

(Sambodhi Insights)