On Choosing a Life of Purpose

I have studied for decades,

Burning midnight oil

year after year,

Staying away from home,

Eating frugal hostel food,

Spending my father’s

meager teacher salary,

Juggling endless exams,

research, and publications

Ruining precious health

along the way.

I am not going to waste it,

Working for random

cunning businesses,

Which get rich by exploiting

the gullibility of people,

That taints the earth

with piles of pollution.

I would rather use

my hard-earned wisdom,

To generate awareness

in these inflamed times,

To guide my fellow humans

on a healthy path.

My lighthouse conscience

waves the green flag,

It says that’s

the right thing to do

Be the agent of change

you want to see,

justify the learning

you have gathered,

Adhere to morality

and find your way.