‘Why do you smile,

you young fool?

Why do you laugh?’

The old monk asked

‘I laugh for I am in love

Her smiles are mine;

her heart is mine!’

The young man said

‘Mine….you say?

In love…you declare?

Her smile is not yours

Her heart is not yours

Her smile belongs

to her heart;

and her love belongs

to her desires!’

‘Then what is mine?

pray tell me old monk!’

‘Regret is yours;

and emptiness too

Guilt is yours

and sadness true!’