Sum total

With the entire summer to my disposal,
I sat down to do some 'sum total',
Its always good to revise
the little maths you remember to appear wise


I stared at the anomaly that is me
and the anomaly that is you
in the light and 'shades of ray'
And it was clear this math is going to take a while
even without the friendly distractions and the tea breaks..
So with a deep breath I begin the task in hand
And took a sojourn into the years passed behind..


Its a rookie mistake to start at a zero
we start at a coincidental score..
the place, the country, the religion, the color 
the parents, the family 
an inheritance, an identity, a baggage
choose your word carefully my friend
because
it will always add up to who you are..


I like not the above grim math,
so a cheerful childhood reminiscence, should serve me right
every little game that kept you on your toes,
every little joy that gave twinkle to your eyes
every little fight that made you mad,
every little story that lulled you into sleep,
the rhymes, the festivities, the surprise tests,
the road to your home,
the stationers shop, the ice cream parlor
the friendly neighbor, the jealous aunt
each one added a piece to who you are.


The people you love and the ones you fight,
The friends you make and the ones you alienate
The movies you love and the ones you hate.
The songs that run in loops day in and out..
The person you are in the spotlight
and the one you turn into in the darkest hour


I like not the fuzzy math,
so a count of material riches, should quantify things right
the number of fancy dresses in your closet,
the number of new cellphones you've lost
the number of hardbound books,
the number of original CD's & DVD's
and yes the pirated ones as well
the cities you have seen,
the languages and foods you know
all speak of the person you are..


Can someone really do the math?
We trust not any person who nods in affirmation..
There's always more that what meets the eye
yet still, we hope for someone to get this math right..
to know and understand us,
when we cry and when we laugh..


But then all life promises is to somehow balance out in the end
and the sum total will be known only when it is truly the end..