Carpet of Life

Why did I come to this life?

Why did you come to this world?

So that I can live with you

So that you can live with me

People say we control our live

Others say that the fate and ouside forces control our lives

Life is like a weaving a carpet

We choose the thread, colour…and weave

People and relationship are woven into the carpet

Carpet will be strong and bright

when we invest in those relationship

when we shine those relationship as we shine jewels

This carpet I weave

I am not the owner

My life is only a part of the carpet of the humanity

Life is a suffering and struggle, as a wiseman said

Our personal sufferings are only a part of

a larger carpet of suffering of the humanity

When attention is fixed on our own suffering,

the pain enlarges

When we turn our gaze to the suffering of humanity

the pain diminishes, the compassion enlarges

the living takes on a different meaning

Another year goes by

promising to myself that

the carpet I weave will be stronger and brighter

Cloud-river

2000, Montreal

Okkyung Pak