The Student

Once upon a time there lived a little boy in a small town
Happy always with a ready smile, he was a little clown
Wanting him to learn, his parents duly sent him to school
While he would have preferred to throw stones by the pool

Off he went to the school, and sat along with his mates
Writing the numerals with a piece of chalk on black slates
His cohorts picked up with one and went to two three and four
But the little boy was focused on the number one and no more

His teacher, incensed at the boy's stupidity used his stick
But no amount of punishment was able to do the trick
The little boy remained oblivious of his world and plight
And persevered night and day in getting his task right

Time passed, seasons changed, and the boy grew to be a man
His world was centered on writing number 1 as per his plan
His friends and parents rejected him fearing him to be insane
Even though he was at heart very loving and quite humane

Ostracized by society the kindly man retired to the deep woods
Where he lived amidst birds and animals, berries his main food
Still he persevered in writing the most perfect number one
Wandering about the hills and dales filled with the light of sun

Finally the day came when he discovered to his extreme delight
That he had finally succeeded in his endeavor and got it right
He rushed to his old teacher, who exclaimed: "What is the ado?"
The man then wrote 1 on the school wall, which split into two

- This poem was inspired by a story narrated in Ram Dass's book.