Markandeya

Markandeya, do you ever think

of the day when as a boy of fourteen

terrified by the vision of Yama's death noose 

you had rushed to embrace your beloved Shivalinga

And He, that great giver of boons

had rescued you from death, forever?

Markandeya, now that you are

a great sage, full of wisdom

do you ever regret that moment of fear

when you had chosen your eternal imprisonment

in this cage of flesh and bones?

Markandeya, do you sometimes wonder

what if, on that day, 

you had embraced Yama instead?

You might have found hidden, behind his dark visage

the shining light of true immortality.

Markandeya, maybe, now you know

a boon can sometimes be a curse.

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