I read and reread this poem as with all your others, and I found myself touched by it, more than expected perhaps. At first reading I found it so sad, the ending so final, but now after rereading I see things differently, I see the premise of being placed 'up high' as the beauty of self knowledge and peace despite the rantings and ravings of the crowd…a smiling face as body dies but soul makes its noble statement loud and clear, and THEY all hear and take you DOWN for it! The further down they push you the higher above them you come to be...it makes the sadness of the poem dissipate into a distant sort of hopefulness and joy in knowing one has 'tried his utmost' and has won because of this sincere and honest effort, despite the resulting murder/death of his physical body...the reference to the white lily is one of my favorite of yours, soft and fragile, pure and innocent and beautiful, sensitive but strong and full of life, a soldier dressed in his true colors, ironically, that color is white and fresh, simple and symbolic of TRUTH on a meaningful layer of awareness...reflecting his light back towards himself and exposing his being to himself, his ONENESS, lasting or not...this is a beautiful poem ashok, really beautiful and so meaningful...i feel very inspired...

This poem says to me that when one attempts to get beyond the finite, this life "kills". (The Infinite is however knowable and will be found by those who seek.) A simpler expression of the underlying theme is found in my recent poem, "The Answer".

I read the last line as being intentionally ambiguous - a recurring scenario, a choice to be made, the outcome uncertain. There again, it could be the ultimate in self-consciousness - a pedestal :>

Oh yes, playing with time-space in ones own mind can lead to loosing ones "groundedness" but these moments also teach us the values of our own place in time. Great write, great read.

This piece really left me astonished. It is full of introspection to the most extreme measures that I can comprehend. You don't hold back at all here. Very thought provoking piece Ashok..

This latest installment certainly adds fresh perspective to the human condition. That tall structure is pretty crowded right now. :o)

Ashok, trying to take a break from time. Moments of lucidity in which time dissolves and we find ourselves on the precipice of understanding only to be distracted by the realities we have constructed and "pop" our moment of nirvana has become a dream (the substance of what is on the tip of our tongue, but unable to be realized). But who is to say how many lifetimes that moment was. Maybe if we don't try so desperately to keep the moment and only try to stretch it out... maybe we could learn to do it forever (perceptively). Thank you for the writing something to take me out of time....

'twould seem to me, why persist the fight, when victory is in the raising the white flag and in crying uncle.

I don't want to take away from your poem with a comment, so I will just say Excellent Ashok...Charlie

Seeking is the greatest obstacle because of the seeker. It is the seeker who is the obstacle—not seeking. You'd better be careful, or you may find your self hanging in the noose of body-consciousness. Pe4ce...