The Summit

Pursuing excellence in a quest for glory
stirred passions, amidst chasing dreams,
A crisp offer letter, harbinger of challenges
Promising positive changes sent ambitions soaring
Reaching out to shooting stars in the daylight sky

The journey got tedious, tasks arduous
Competition more fierce, ethics perfidious
Flight schedules, itineraries replaced marks
and Grades in children’s Report cards
Board meetings gained priority over summer camps

Along the way quality faded, life got jaded
nerves highly strung as tempers frayed
embellishments adorned shelves a plenty
collectibles burst forth a score and twenty
Status symbols changed with fashions in and out
Their value nothing worth writing about

Friends distanced, family fragmented
achievements hollow as bonds disjointed
the last leg of the journey was an uphill task
The winding path got narrower ; A hand to hold I asked
your grasp was fragile, the clasp was broken

I did not look back, as mists blurred my vision
remained isolated, even two became a crowd atop the ivory tower
Having reached the summit, my echoes resounded
No elation, just deep regret matched profound sorrow
knowing that all laughter had died, eons ago.