Shades of Gray 

For Daisy Mangat (my little "sister")

 By Rachna Pannu

Look through the lens of right and wrong,
What you see is a black and white screen,
'Tis not truth, but perception,
Everyone is gray, a shade of gray,
We are pure and white only at birth,
 

There are and always will be:
Two sides to every story,
A miracle known to each,
An insignificant amount of impossibles,
A miniscule number of yes and no's,
An eternity of in between,
 
Don't label souls pure or black,
Don't look for the person to blame,
A human alone can see at one angle,
We can only glimpse at,
The true colors of ourselves,
 
So, how do we judge others,
as if we see it all?
 
We don't see the poverty,
In the eyes of a pickpocketer,
We don't hear the lack of attention,
In the voice of a continuous liar,
We don't know the terrible life,
That led to the murderer,
We don't feel the pain we cause,
If we are hurt as well,
 
So, do we have black soul,
Full of selfishness and ignorance,
No, all souls are gray,
Shades of Gray.

 June 20, 2007

Submit comments...

This is an excellent poem. I am hoping that this young person is keeping her poetry
and would publish it some day.
I have read something very beautiful after quiate a while.
Keep it up. You will touch the skies some day.
Baldev Mutta

Very nice work by Rachna.
Ravi

Wonderful poem.
Dr. khalid sohail

A refreshing breath of fresh air
I always wondered,
is wisdom young or old?
Never knew that the answer could be so simple.
To be wise is to be fair;
Thanks Rachna, for a breath of fresh air.
Gurjit Gill

Vow
These lines from a good heart are no less than a parable from any BIBLE.
Good job Rachna.
Bikram Randhawa

Words of great wisdom. Rachna represents hope for a better future. Keep it up Rachna
to inspire more minds to see life in a broader perspective.
Gurdas Minhas

What a visionary thought from an unsullied mind! I feel like saying many a good word
about the poem, but I won't say any because I feel I will diminish the enormity of
the thought and expression of the poem, doesn't matter what I attempt to say. I will
only salute in acclaimation.   
  Harman