A tale of two brothers

'Tis a tale of two brothers
One called Ramu,
and the other Shamu,
from a village long ago..

'Tis the story of their lives

and the lessons learned..

when out to the world,

they decided to go..

Both went far and wide..

till one day,

Ramu found a Master--

and Shamu found a Guru..

They learned their lessons well,

and strived hard with sincerity..

until they were ready--

to go in search of prosperity..

Ramu had learnt to submit 

and yield to the will of his Master..

so that he could think like Him,

and follow his path, thereafter.. 

Shamu had learnt to think,

with abstraction and dispassion..

so he could argue and inquire,

with empathy and compassion..

The Master chiseled the mind of Ramu 

and moulded him, as if he were

a lump of clay..

While the Guru nurtured Shamu

and helped him discover himself through his thoughts--

while at work and at play..

Ramu learned to treat his Master

with fear and deference..

And that he faced a lot of punishments,

was an obvious inference.. 

Shamu explored his mind

to experience a sense of deep connection--

that connected him to his Guru and to the universe,

with a bond of love and affection..

While the Master taught of devotion

as loyalty, allegiance and submission.. 

The Guru taught of devotion 

as commitment, identification and compassion..

Ramu returned sharp, smart and disciplined,

and always with him was a guide..

It was his Master's book of commandments..

that he worshipped everyday, 

and held on to with dignity and pride..

Shamu returned calm, composed and wise..

and never needed a guide--

The Guru gave him no holy book,

and that came as no surprise.. 

As the years rolled by, Ramu went far and wide,

and earned for himself name and fame.. 

Shamu too reached out far and wide, 

but always returned to from where he came..

The more he acquired fame, 

the more Ramu felt a deep loss..

Inside him was a chasm that--

with all of his wealth, 

he never could cross.. 

People spoke of Shamu, 

as if he were a banyan tree..

He grew tall and wide, 

but never went anywhere.. 

For his deep roots helped sustain

a rich ecosystem, from here to there..

While Shamu is loved, revered and celebrated,

he has but one lament..

as the world adopts modernity, 

the earth under him as turned into cement!