The Middle Path

They live inside my head,

They talk to me,

But befriending them,

Turned out to be,

The biggest mistake I ever made.

One of them says, "Enjoy yourself,

Live for yourself,

Forget your sorrows,

And live life as if,

There is no tomorrow."

The other one says,

"If you live as if tonight is your last night,

One day you will be proved right.

So wait for your turn,

Do good to others and get good in return."

Neither of them is willing to give in,

No common ground in between,

Always fighting,

Always bickering,

My best interest, they are both protecting.

Finally, I say, "Enough is enough

Both of you have made valid points

I do not wish to take any side,

But finally, it's my life we are talking about,

So I will be the judge. I will decide.

Neither of you is entirely wrong,

Neither of you is entirely correct,

But in your heated arguments,

You both have ignored,

One crucial aspect.

I do not wish to work like a horse,

I do not wish to live like a hermit,

But now I will,

Express my views,

If you will permit.

Both you talk in extremes,

Neither of you believes in moderation,

But sadly the world,

Which you have portrayed,

Is a figment of your imagination.

Neither altruistic,

Nor materialistic,

Instead I,

Prefer to be,

Realistic.

It's okay to be selfish at times,

It's alright to care for others as well,

I do not wish to give any assurances,

But I will listen to either of you,

Depending on the facts and circumstances.

At the cost of repetition, I must state

I wish neither of you unwell,

But in the words of the Buddha,

I will follow the middle path,

And live a balanced life as well. "

"Monks, these two extremes ought not to be practiced by one who has gone forth from the household life. There is an addiction to indulgence of sense-pleasures, which is low, coarse, the way of ordinary people, unworthy, and unprofitable; and there is an addiction to self-mortification, which is painful, unworthy, and unprofitable. 

Avoiding both these extremes, the Perfect One has realized the Middle Path; it gives vision, gives knowledge, and leads to calm, to insight, to enlightenment, and to Nibbana." - Pali Canon of Thervada Buddhism (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta)