Twenty-Seven

First Noble Truth: Life is Suffering.


Compassion is feeling the pain
that I tell her she doesn't have.

Surbhi points to her forehead
Her distant look, wide-eyed,
Murmuring "maara...maara..."

First noble lie: tell a child
they're not feeling what they're feeling.

No one hit you, koi nahin maara,
It's only in your head, baccha,
it's not real, not real life because

real life is suffering
and your suffering
your pain
it didn't happen
no one hit you
so it can't be real,

i tell her truthfully,

but her eyes are not convinced,

to her, i am a liar,

she touches her forehead