a young woman went to her mother and told her about her life
and how things were so hard for her, o why all this strife
dunno if she was gonna make it, just wanna give up and depress drive

i am tired of fighting and struggling
as one problem gets solved, another bad moon arising

“come to the kitchen” mama said to help her out of the mire
she filled 3 pots with water and set them to boil on high fire
then she placed into the water carrots, eggs and ground coffee beans in that order
she let them sit and boil, without saying a word, without any bother

in 20 minutes, she turned off the burner
– dished out the carrots and placed them in a bowl
– pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl
– ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl
“tell me what u see” she asked, turning to her daughter

why, ‘carrots, eggs and coffee,’ she replied
“come closer, feel the carrots” mama plied
‘hmm, kinda soft’ said daughter, wondering what’s being implied

“take an egg and break it” mama toyed her to toil
she proceeded to shell the egg and noted it’s solid hard-boiled

finally, mama asked daughter to sip the coffee
wow such rich aroma and taste -‘what does it mean, mother?’ she pled with glee

mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity
boiling water with same intensity
yet different outcomes as each reacted differently

“think of this: which am i?”, an epiphany to spawn

the carrot went in water strong, hard and unrelenting
however, after being subjected to boiling water, it softened and became weak without crunchzing
the egg had been fragile with thin outer shell protecting liquid interior
but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside hardened, harder than its shell exterior
the ground coffee beans were unique, however
after they were in the boiling water, they transformed the taste of the water

“which are u?” mama asked, revelation to spawn
“when adversity knocks on your door, how do u respond?”
“are u a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean, which to pawn?”

am i the carrot that seems strong with carotene brawn?
but with pain and adversity, do i wilt, become soft and lose my strength and be withdrawn?

or am i the egg that starts with a malleable heart but changes with heat?
did i have a fluid spirit beat
or do i after a death, a breakup, a trial or financial hardship,
become hardened, stiff with negative nip?
does my outer shell look the same, but on the inside, deep and dark
am i bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart hark?

or am i like the coffee bean plain?
the bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain
when the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor
if u are like the bean, you’d endeavor
when things are at their worst, it’s the cue
to get better and change the situation around u

when the hour is the darkest and trials are at their greatest bevel,
do u elevate yourself to another level?
how do u handle adversity?
are u a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean thirsty?

recalling earlier “i wish u enough” ramrom treat
may u have enough happiness to make u sweet,
enough trials to make u strong,
enough sorrow to keep u human kong
enough hope to make u happy life long

the e-story goes on to close
the happiest of people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the most
of everything that comes along their way
the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past clay
u can’t go forward in life until past failures and heartaches to let go and slay

when u were born, u were crying and everyone around u was smiling
so my friend
live your life so at the end
you’re the one who is smiling and everyone around u is crying