She Walked the Lonely Road

She walked the lonely road
Brave, head held high.
The wind caressing her hair,
The sunlight twinkling in her eyes.

One foot forward
Followed by the next
In tandem they moved
Her sight fixed far ahead.

The birds circled high above
The clouds a dreamy blur
The wind whispering in her ears
Secrets she hadn’t heard before.

Her dream was lofty
Her vision very high
The horizon beckoned her forward
The past she left far behind.

The road she walked on she created
With every step she took.
None had tread this way before,
No doubt everyone gave her the look.

But nothing mattered no more
She was up and on her way
Her dream was all that mattered
Her life she’d begun to live.

Out on a discovery
On an expedition to find
All that she had heard about
All that her teacher had defined.

The treasure was hers if found
No one else could claim
It was rightfully hers
Provided she could bear the pain.

The search would take her far
Away from dear ones
Alone, by herself, she’d have to tackle
All the obstacles in her path.

Determination writ large on her face
Courage backing her stride
Her dream drawing her forward
Faith shielding her eyes.

Her gait remained ever steady
She neither faltered nor stalled
She tripped a few times over
But that’s about all.

Fall she did,
But didn’t stay down at all.
Picking herself up with grace
She continued on unflustered.

How many like her
Have only dreamt of journeys such
Of carving out their own niche
And creating unparalleled paths.

A strength for many to come forward
An inspiration for many to try
Proof that everything is possible
If only you dare to strive.

The Sorry Tale - Poem

The Sorry Tale

Alone walk through the woods, the less travelled road of no return.
Alas! I have strayed onto the beaten path, I choose the known despite the pain.
The stink, the pricks, the jab of broken glass with every step
Yet I keep going, the fleeting pleasures numbing the pain that goes in deep, so deep.

I see the unbeaten path, it beckons, it’s inviting, I drool at the thought of unknown findings
Yet my courage fails me and I continue with my spasms of pain and gain
Faltering, failing, falling and rising, it happens so rhythmically, you almost enjoy it.
The sadistic pleasure is intoxicating but more than that it’s the comfort of knowing.

Been down this road, fallen so often, scrapped my knees and scarred my heart
I chose the road less travelled but to no avail, it made others feel a fool, they wailed.
They dragged me back, lured me and cajoled me, and simply stopped me in my tracks.
Somewhere down the line I succumbed, heaved a heavy sigh and followed suit.

The road less travelled they say is not for you, you’re one of us, we need you
Emotions sway, thoughts go haywire, discrimination comes to a halt, the heart takes over.
Thereafter it’s a merry ride as you swing on your emotions, oft down, at times high
Is it all worth it? I might never know. To take each day as it comes is all I know.
- Rukma