Knee-Deep in Duḥkha

You’re feeling guilty. So am I.

I didn’t mean to make you sad.

It wasn’t you that made me cry.

It’s no one’s fault I’m feeling bad.

There will be times when I break down

and times when tears will just spring forth.

But I’ve withstood the ups and downs

so I know I’ll be okay henceforth.

Cause anytime that there is pain

it’s only present for good reason.

To fight against it’s a fight in vain,

for we all will suffer in due season.

Four Noble Truths the Buddha taught,

or Chatvari-Arya-satyani.

These central tenets of Buddhist thought

offer insights into reality.

And the first is that duḥkha, or suffering,

ergo stress and unsatisfactoriness,

is what lies at the core of our very existence.

A life is not life without pain and distress.

©️ Jupiter Grant, 2021

Enjoyed this poem? Please send me a tip below so I can keep writing.

Jupiter Grant is a self-published author, blogger, narrator, and audiobook producer. Buy me a coffee here: https://ko-fi.com/jupitergrant

More by Jupiter Grant here on Vocal Media: