THIS IS SHE

Metaphorically charged-immensely scrutinized- pitifully presented -thoughtfully started-erratically ended- here goes: THIS IS SHE.

There once was a girl who was told she was a puppy. She grew up chewing on bones, chasing cats and wagging her tail dutifully at her masters. She lived her whole life bounding back and forth the porch not knowing particularly why, but she did it anyway. She let people tousle her hair, slept behind the couch and remained faithful all life long….yes she was told she was a puppy and she believed it…this is she.

There once was a girl who was told she was a frog. She grew up swimming in her well, swatting things that came her way, lapping it all up in her stride. She felt liberated and buoyant in her world, all content till she realized that there are other wells to get into before she dies. She kept churning her pot of milk all life long, waiting for it to turn into a lump of butter so she could hop out and go explore other wells and who knows maybe a pond even….yes she was told she was a frog and she believed it… this is she.

There was once a girl who was told she was a goat. She grew up chewing things thrown her way, always hoping that the grass was greener on the other side of the hill. She was listless but was told she had an undaunting spirit that would forge her much ahead of the league. She climbed up mountains, she passed by valleys, she graced unknown terrains. She lived and dreamed of the heights that beckoned her all life long… yes she was told she was a goat and she believed it… this is she.

There was once a girl who was told she was a racoon. She grew up collecting and stashing away things, making place even when there was none, for them. She lived in dread of the mysterious winters’ that never came by her and she rummaged all life long looking for the minutiae that others disregarded. She epitomized hoarding, followed her acorn with a fervour that she didn’t know she possessed, she pranced around with her possessions. She lived her life ensconced … yes she was told she was a racoon and she believed it… this is she.

There was once a girl who was told she was a dragon. Majestic she was which made her heady. It came naturally to her to look down on the lesser beings and stomp her way around obstacles. Fierce she was, indomitable in spirit and she breathed fire all life long when provoked. She held her head high up against the storm, she roared and made sure she was heard, she feared none. She willed life to challenge her so could fly above the rest all life long…. yes she was told she was a dragon and she believed it… this is she.

CAGED!!!

By Maya Angelou........................................
The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill for the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.