EACH SOLITARY STROKE

Mainak Dhar

A solitary raft meanders,

in the stormy sea of life,

seeking the island of dreams,

the end of toil and strife.

A solitary oar stroke seems futile,

against the raging of the sea,

each day brings you no closer,

battered by waves of reality.

You could resign to despair,

content to ride the nearest wave,

living life as flotsam,

the end an unknown, watery grave

But you could follow a dream,

of an island you want to reach,

each solitary stroke will have purpose,

a step forward towards that beach.