Self-induced curse

Isn’t the cow beautiful?

 

Yes, the white cow is a beauty.

 

No, Mama, I mean that cow,

the pied one over there.

 

Isn’t its coat beautiful,

black with white markings!

 

People admire patterns of colours,

hail God’s colourful creations.

 

People go for multi-coloured flowers,

value plants with variegated leaves.

.

Animals, birds, fishes and plants are

cross-bred for interesting colouration.

 

Tattoos alter pigmentation of skin.

People take pride in showing them around.

 

But people affected by vitiligo

live a life of self-induced hell.

 

They grieve over the white patches

on their skin for the rest of their lives.

 

Cheer up, my friend,

It’s the twenty-first century.

 

Vitiligo is only the absence of skin pigment.

What is there to worry about?

 

If people treat you differently

show indifference to their attitude.

 

If people jeer at you

greet them with a big grin on your face.

 

If people stare at you

stare back with a smile on your lips.

 

If people laugh at you

just lough out aloud.

 

If people mock at you

forgive them for their lack of knowledge.

 

Outward beauty is only skin deep.

Real beauty is the internal beauty.

 

-Tayenjam Bijoykumar Singh