The Seedling

I feel tugged by the roots.

I barely recall the first time you encountered me.

I was a freshly planted seed back then,

And was so firmly grounded.

You were a gentle gust of wind that passed by.

I didn’t know you.

I didn’t know anything,

You could say I was oblivious.

But with time,

I started changing,

Both inside and out.

I was a seed survivor.

As I grew,

I started thinking about Myself.

And less of Myself.

Since everything was changing so rapidly,

I felt I couldn’t

Grow to my fullest potential.

But as a Seedling,

I then started seeing the Sun

In all his Glory.

The Sun is good for me.

The Sun who has my best interests at heart.

The Sun who became the Centre of my Universe.

But sometimes,

The Sun’s harsh rays would burn me.

The rays would harm my tender,

Most sensitive leaves.

There were times I felt,

That I will not grow to be a Tree.

But that I was a Vine,

Growing towards the direction of the Sun

It felt very different,

As I was used to growing my own way.

I was used to standing Tall,

On my own terms.

On my own grounds.

I had to decide.

I had to become more like myself.

I dug my roots more firmly

Into the ground.

And then I grew.

Tall, Willowy, Beautiful.

I was standing so statuesque.

Basking in the Sun.

But in my own right.

Then there was you.

You are like the Wind.

A breath of Fresh Air.

East Wind headed West or

West Wind headed East.

I do not know.

But the impact you had on me,

Even in the gentlest of forms.

You will never know.

You made those dried leaves,

Which by then had become dried branches,

Fall away.

You gave me perspective,

And made me realize that

My journey of Growth

Is one of Courage.

The Gusts of Wind

Which blew my way,

Encouraged my Beauty, My Flowers, My Fruits.

My Growth.

But in the shortest of times,

The Gusts grew stronger.

And at times I am in fear,

At the pace of my Growth.

I fear that my roots will not be able to handle

My Growth.

I fear that your Gusts will in time

Become Gales.

And I will be overwhelmed by their strength.

I fear it will uproot me,

And I will not know

When I have fallen.

Drafted in 2009
Revisited and Revised in 2018