An Autobiography

The first time I opened my eyes

I saw a glowing globe rise

which threw light on the extensive

beautiful blue blanket that did give

the exquisite envelope fit

for the gifts of God beneath it.

Lord, I beseech ye to keep that place

as I saw it during the phase

of my life which felt wonder and

admired the greenery of the land.

I also recollect my first

taste of water; all thought of thirst

forgotten; the feel of rain,

the pulse of ecstasy coursing my vein.

I thus embraced the seeds of life

and promised not to cause strife

among the benevolent creatures

that adorn the magnificent features

of Earth. Months passed by and I grew tall

enough to make out a high wall.

I rose up and up, high above.

Every strand of hair does blow

with every gust of the fast wind.

My heart felt so heavy and pinned

against its confines for not being

able to see the sun heaving

its shining self across the sky,

nor the celestial Luna, high

up, making herself move all the way

across the gem-laden night. May

thunder or lightning race about,

I cared for nothing except about

seeing the world over the wall.

I stretched my arms and stood tall

on my toes and slowly worked my

body towards the top. With a sigh,

a pant and a lunge, I worked thus.

Suddenly, I felt that I must

do something else as well-worth,

something to add joy and mirth.

Soon, I was bounded by colour

which gave me the strength to harbour

failures I encountered while

trying to scale the wall, so high.

At last! I did it! I did it!

My head burst over the sunlit

side of the wall and knew nothing

but ecstasy that is lingering

even today. But then something happened

that made me feel uneasy, dampened.

Each breath became heavier than

the last. The colours grew blurred and

my deep crystal clear vision

grew worse. I lost my sense of mission.

I felt a cloud of black surround

me. My eyes weighed a thousand pounds.

After that, I remembered nothing,

heard nothing, saw nothing, felt nothing.

When my overwrought eyes opened

again, I thought what a God – send

it was to just be able to breathe

peacefully. I realized

I was imprisoned. My on-the-heal

mind told me so. But I did not feel

suffocated and that was sufficient.

I have lain here since. On the

eve of my hundredth year, a child read the

writing on my transparent wall,

‘Tree – extinct specie’ and that is all.