Happy New Year

The old gives way to the new,
the grasses shine with the dew,
But, something is not new,
The school is same; the books are same.
The dreams are same; The life is same.

It's the truth - adventure is missing,
We do nothing but reading,
eating, sleeping, learning without understanding.
Life today is just breathing.

If anyone could understand me,
someone could cool my firing heart;
Ah ! Its knowledge, new knowledge,
O ! had I the time to part,
to unite with that ocean --
which ends nowhere.
To submerge in that wine --
which gives limitless, unhinged pleasure,
to die that death --
which is no death at all.

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written around new year's time, Jan 1, 1999.