A Distant Dream

A Distant Dream

Grandma's tales in those adolescent springs
of lifelike heroes, and of life-size kings,
I perceived one day would give me wings
and I shall too strike the perfect strings
of the instrument that was yet unseen
but to get the hang of which I was so keen
that I shut myself in a closet, and did wean
myself of comforts and delights umpteen.

In that covert castle of my own being
it gradually became infeasible to bring
myself to terms with each and everything
outside this one dream I was chasing.
Everything else was put on the backburner
and I sat on my haunches as a churner
pulling out fruits of diligence with fervor
strengthening day and night my armour.

What I had utterly overlooked in this venture
that in all those granny's tales of adventure
there was always a fiend, who would enter
when the rosy hues were about to mentor
the hero to hit the jackpot with a final blow.
I too have to confront such many a foe
but my distant dream is in my sight, I know
even though I trudge with steps too slow.

Originally published in The Dialog, Spring 2015. (ISSN 0975-4881)