Dedicated to... well you know who.
All The World’s Not A Stage
All the world’s not a stage
so stop acting
and become yourself
all the world’s not a stage
so stop watching your back
and learn to relax
There ain’t no ever shining spotlight on you
and no audience to judge your every move
no one really cares, what you say or think or do and believe
and it matters to none, what he thinks of thee
To fit in, is important. I agree
but would you do it at the cost of your individuality?
The mob moves with you, but the mob’s cavalier
the mob only wishes to remain a mob forever
You may choose, to be the mob
Scoffing, over the ones who differ
talking, as if from the higher power
acting out, like you’re something else
making remarks, everyone agrees upon
and laughs along, with every statement you make.
You may choose, to fake yourself
so much, that your act becomes your life
telling me, that I don’t know the real you
but in reality,
I don’t know the person you could have been.
I don’t know the you
who doesn’t choose to only hear, but knows how to listen
I don’t know the you
who doesn’t choose to apprehend, but knows how to appreciate
and I don’t know the you
who doesn’t choose to laugh on, but knows how to laugh with
But I do know, that when life slaps you in the face sometimes
you do not turn towards the mob you play with
you run, you run away from your fears
and from the results of all the “feats” you have achieved
but when finally confronted, you choose the one who chose to differ
and you come and beg for help, knowing that you may never return the favour
but you don’t care for that, because this too
is a part of your act
You don’t need to speak on everything
regardless what you say makes sense or not
and it is absolutely not necessary
to humiliate everyone at every spot.
It is not essential, to pick on someone
if you do not know any other means of having fun
and it does not help you grow
if you sow the seeds of hatred everywhere.
You need to understand
that popularity and respect don’t go hand in hand
and you need to amend to realise
actions are not always results of obligations
though yours, may have been
but others do exercise their choices
and a choice not made, is far from a sign of inability
it’s a mark of character, will and strength
But you, do not understand this,
because you never sat down to think
and again you may argue, that I don’t know you
but I say that I know as much as I perceive
no more, and certainly no less.
Despite your charm and vigour in the populace
you force me to believe that in life, you lack in some place
Perhaps you were bought up in a different household than mine
and didn’t get a chance to learn simple morals and conducts.
A wild beast breathes within you
untamed, willing to be unchained
Who lacks basic civilities,
or has given them up, to maintain the decorum of the mob.
Whatever may be the cause, it does not concern me
but when I have to sit with you, it suffocates me
that I have an equal, who missed out on basic etiquettes
who was so deprived, that he never conceived basic proprieties
my heart churns for you, but there’s nothing I can do
for you have chosen your path to be.
And for when you need not be the beast;
you act, to be a normal human being
as you are, a master of false performance
So be it, and be as you will
but try not to hurt someone, who chose to be sane
and follows the ways of human conduct
to chose compassion, against mockery
who valued honour, over fame
This life we get, is our own and no one else’s
and to live lives of others’ was not what we were meant to be
You won’t believe me, but I shall say
that your social life is not as important as you think
and popularity is a college of illusion
which breaks on graduation day
Life, is not a contest of popularity
and what you feel is attachment, not loyalty.
I shall say, that “tomorrow never comes”
is no excuse for insanity today
and following the mindless pack
makes you a zombie not a mortal.
A simple fact to explain my reason
that most people follow, what most people do
and most people today, are unhappy too
I shall say, that if you love yourself, others will too
but for that, to yourself you need to be true
When you feel boredom, it’s not an excuse to waste someone’s stint
it’s an incentive to your mind, to go and be creative
Going with every new trend, just means you don’t know yourself well
and also remember, that amongst the mob of illusion
three true friends are all you need in any situation
Life, is a sensitive game
one mistake and its game over
so try and tell the truth, and you won’t even have to live in fear
Your mind is a beautiful place, protect it from plagiarism
And try not to hate mean people, they’re just ignorant and living in fear
it’s the insecurity they possess, which brings out the ugliness in them
Try not to lower your standards, to fit into the herd
as the benefits are less, but the cost is too much
When you think of revenge, try out some moderation
as life’s long enough and it balances every equation
And remember, a lot of suffering in the world is due to human ego
try to study and learn to overcome it
If my words had any meaning to you
do sit down and ponder
if the time for your act is over
if you should go back to the world which was yours
and be proud of who you are, as an individual
with unique choices, challenging the mob
and your own views, and opinions and life,
Or
you have walked into the act so deep
you have forgotten how to get out
you don’t know how to stop acting
and this act of yours has become a reality
then, I’d say
all the world’s a stage
so try, and start acting.
- Vishal Gupta
March 26th, 2011
