A long, long time ago,
at the bottom of the sea,
there lived a little oyster
as blue as he could be.

He hardly ever spoke
and rarely ever smiled
at all the sea folks who
used to pass him by.

“Why are you so glum?”
Said the sea anemone
“Cheer up my little one!”
As she waved gleefully

The oyster didn’t smile
and one could not see
his tears as he sighed
and spoke on ruefully.

“You are so colourful
and look very pretty
with your many arms
moving with the sea.

And the fishes there,
just look at them go
with their bright tails
like twirling rainbows.

While here I am all day
in my drab little shell –
nothing to do and say
and no stories to tell.”

And so the oyster spent
it’s whole life in the sea.
And on one fine, sunny day,
it washed up on the beach.

The girl shouted happily
as she held it in her hands
and showed it to everybody
who had gathered around.

Joy lit up her blue eyes
as they found the pearls.
They said she was lucky
to find such a big oyster-

Who was by now thinking and
smiling at them from Heaven
“I wish I’d known all this time –
my worth- happy I’d have been.”

And so it is dear friends
as plain as truth can be.
Why fret over the reasons?
Trust in Him is all you need.

Walk the tightrope to the end.
Don’t look down. Not yet, my friend.
Swim across the ocean wide.
Against the currents and the tides.
Fly across the great blue sky,
overcoming all worries and strife.
Run along the winding road for
at its end lies the true abode.
And when you come to that door,
The crown of victory will be yours.

Piper, piper, play me a song
so I can dance
and sing along.

Piper, piper, I hear you now
and I’ll follow you
beyond the clouds.

Piper, piper, stop playing your pipe
for I’ll stay awhile
in this place o’ light.

I asked if she
would help me
to cross the street.

My vision’s a blur;
I don’t even hear
my bones as they creak.

The street’s so wide;
I cannot decide
where to point my feet.

She took my hand
and like a lamb
I followed silently.

She left me standing
at the gate, wond’ring,
of this castle by the street.

“This is where you’ll be.”
She said to me
and turned away to leave.

I asked her name
and why she came
and where she had brought me.

“Your angel,” she said.
“And Heaven’s this place
Where you’ll rest in peace.”

‘Twas on a glowing autumn evening,
there came at Stan’s door a knocking.
Two guests sat near the hearth
The angel of life and the angel of death.

One wore robes of the finest silk
like the sun rising over the hills.
The other was adorned in shades
of changing leaves in the glades.

Each put forth his argument
bidding Stan to take a decision,
For whomever he chose to be with
would stay and the other would leave.

“Life is like a stroll through
a corridor with many doors
behind each of which lies
a sea of possibilities.”

“Death is the end
of all suffering.
It is the place where
one rests in peace.”

“Life is like a race
through a puzzling maze
with twists and turns
of highs and lows.”

“In death lies the final
truth that makes people
equal for it sees no
barriers and no emotions.”

“Life is like a river flowing
through deep valleys finding
its way through stones and
changing them into sand.”

“Death seeks no deeds or
accomplishments for
it will eventually come
to everything in turn.”

Having heard them both,
it was Stan’s turn to speak.
He said, “Death is inevitable
and will certainly overtake.

But life holds experiences
in each and every moment.
The pain and the glory
together make the story.”

So, as day came to end the night,
he held the hand of the angel of life.
And, the angel of death who said no more
was shown out through the door.