The Great Fall

Down down down
Down she tumbled, falling head over heels,
There was nothing to hold nor a foothold to keep.
The sides shone bright, but further she couldn’t see
Behind was darkness and just hollow in between.
The only sound she heard was her breathing
The chatter of her mind and the swish of her feet.

How did she fall, did someone push her in?
What lay beyond, she shuddered to think.
The way was one, with turns and dips,
No right nor left, nor lanes to switch.
The deeper she went, the darker it was
Cold, unfriendly, not an ounce of warmth.

She closed her eyes, picturing her life
The sun shone bright, in a clear blue sky.
Birds chirping in the trees and hedge
The green grass swaying in the balmy air.
Friends and family surrounding her
Lots to laugh about and chatter and cheer.

Then came the clouds, sinister and morose,
Covered the sun and rendered around darkness.
The picture changed to black and grey
No blues or greens or warm yellow shades.
No singing of birds or gushing waterfall,
A gloom descended, covering her world.

It was then that she lost her delicate balance
Before she knew it she was zooming down the channel.
A fear rose and stifled her scream
What she could do, she couldn’t think
Her heart was in her mouth, thumping in her ears
She broke out in cold sweat, she reeked of fear.

Down down down
Down she tumbled to the underground
It could be a rabbit’s burrow she felt
She could be like Alice on her wonder quest
But alas! It wasn’t leading to wonderland
It turned out to be the tunnel to hell.

- Rukma