The Passenger

You stare into my eyes and speak of the mystical nature of life. You prance and dance and open up your arms to the big blue sky, as if awaiting angels to descend from the heavens and take you away. You proudly boast about all the places you have travelled to and all the lovers you have taken into your cold embrace. As a gust of wind blows from the north and disrupts the arrangement of your hair, you begin to laugh in a childish manner. Truth be told, the first time the sound of that infectious laughter reached my ears, I became consumed by it. My soul was driven to the brink of madness in paroxysm of ecstasy, but now, the same laughter rings hollow through the chambers of my heart.

You are a bird flying from on tree branch to the next, never sure of where to build your nest. This empty pursuit eventually leads you to one conclusion, that you are nothing but a confused slave, tied down by your own free will. Yet you open your wings and continue your search for a tree on which to settle, even if such a thing does not exist.

You say the only way to live is to allow oneself to be caught in the stormy sea of life, carried to an unknown destination upon the crest of the waves. You claim that one does not need to learn the art of swimming to survive in the sea. "Just close your eyes", you exclaim, "wear your smile and lose yourself in the cold grasp of the breaking waves". This is your way of living.

But allow me to recommend another possibility: open your eyes and let your smile fade away. Learn to ride the roaring waves instead of being engulfed by them, and once you know how to swim, make your way to the closest shoreline. Then, stand upon that shore and gaze into the horizon. Absorb the beauty and the calmness of the water, and watch the waves as they extend their arms to caresss the earth's hardened skin.

You have always lived your life as a passenger on a bullet train. You looked outside through the stained windows, and a sense of excitement once began to fill your heart. You saw beautiful landscapes stretched out from east to west, and for a brief moment, you longed to jump out the window and become one with nature. But the train never stopped, and the scenery turned into another fleeting memory stored in the recesses of your mind. Yet your happiness never dwindled, for you were ignorant of the passing of time and you were content with these fleeting moments of euphoria. Your heart has always searched for something new.

Do not let yourself get carried away by the flow of life. Step out of the current and gaze upon the white foam created on the surface of the water. Remain stationary and immobile with no thoughts on your mind. Close your eyes now and feel the passing of time with each heartbeat. Maybe then you will be able to catch the essence of time.

But whatever you do, do not let time slip through your wrinkled fingers like sand upon the shore.