Life doesn’t rest on bed of roses 
But it goes on in between thorns,  
Like a traveller going up and down 
Before reaching his final destination. 
 
Down the current it’s easy to swim,  
But it’s not so up the stream,  
So also, when going up the mountain 
And not so while coming down. 
 
First gold is melted in fire,  
Beaten and pulled as a wire  
Twisted and cut into pieces 
Before making fine ornaments. 
 
If one continuously eats,  
One by one, variety of sweets 
At one stage, the tongue 
Craves for a salty thing. 
 
A man walking in the hot Sun 
Will only come to know then 
What’s the value of shade,  
For which the trees are made. 
  
In the best of God’s intentions,  
In all His wonderful creations,  
These “Ups” and “Downs” came 
To constantly remember His name.
Rajaram Ramachandran
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/why-the-ups-and-downs/