Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Four Worlds in One Planet

I swam recklessly, swiftly dodging schools of large, gray fish moving at a leisurely pace. Every time I brushed against one's slippery skin, he would exclaim in annoyance, and irately attempt to fend me off. My feelings mirroring theirs, I sighed in relief once I returned to familiar waters.
The sight of my locality was comforting, yet I could feel disappointment welling up inside me. My life was but a... routine, a routine to be strictly adhered to. There was a noticeable lack of adventure, and a gaping paucity of exhilarating memories to refer back to. No accumulation of experiences to proudly recite to the coming generation. 
So, this was my philosophy: If adventure didn't come looking for me, I would have to go looking for adventure.
I hope you can comprehend the inevitability of my decision, and the present situation.
Certainly, there are realms laden with thrill. Not far from my neighborhood, exists a conspicuous grotto, much too dark to become a dwelling. Few sea creatures go within a mile of it, for it is rumored to be the dominion of a cackling sorcerer. Others sagely say that it forms a tunnel that leads to an ancient land. The second theory excites me, but the chances of gathering ample courage to even think of the prospect of exploring there, is very slight.
Coming back, I navigated my path through the crystal clear waters, critically eyeing the vividly flashing anemones, the coral-hued starfish, the alluring caves and caverns, darting shoals of minuscule fish, the tilting, drooping seaweed, and... my sister, Kara.
The view was enticing, yet the familiarity of the backdrop intellectually repelled me. The rich, radiant coloration had lost its pure beauty, and the passage of time had dwindled down to a mere cliche. 
Kara, probably sensing my hazy thoughts, swam up to me playfully. Putting it simply, she is the exact opposite of me- extreme emotions and explosive reactions.
I waved away her arrival indifferently. Just as I was on the verge of departing in the opposite direction, she motioned her fin vertically, pointing at the blue waters fellow fish call too 'treacherous to venture'. This dialogue had been repeated to me so continually, it became more of a rule than an acceptance. 
But now, when I was longing for adventure, it seemed a flawless opportunity. Curiosity aroused, I followed her without complaint.

Swimming vertically was an alien sensation. I had never swum in a direction not tracing the current. I could feel the water pushing against me in all possible directions. I could feel the pressure building up inside me, though Kara seemed unperturbed. As we swam higher, I could identify distinct alterations in my surroundings. The water turned into a pale, warm shade of blue, and the texture felt more... viscous. My heart pumped wildly, and I was debating on doubling back.
No wonder adventure shyed away from me.  
After a while, I could see it quite clearly-  the air-water interphase, the peak of doom, or in other words, the surface. I halted for a moment, and lingered hesitantly. Kara, sensing my unease, swam over to me, her voice heavy with chagrin.
Are you coming or not?
Irritation was etched on her disdainful face, while fear seeped through mine. Her expression turned kinder.
It's perfectly safe. I've been here countless times.
Her tone was reminiscent, as though recalling all the times she had spent here.
It was enough to reassure me.

As my head broke the surface, I instantly felt like I was being bombarded by ceaseless, gelid icicles. Every part of my body- skin, scales and eyes- felt incredibly vulnerable. My eyes strained under the persistent glare of light. Itching to escape the unfamiliarity of the second, I plunged back into the deliciously warm water, with torrents of bubbles rising above me. Deeply inhaling the blissful, restless water, I rejoined my sister at the surface.
My eyes could then slowly adjust, as could the rest of myself. I spun around, taking in the scene. The water, which was so calm and soothing in its watery depths, was frothy and churning at its tip. Harsh waves crashed down upon me, and the illumination stung my eyes.
The waves, on the other hand, seemed to luxuriate in the glow of the sun. Rays of light glinted off their crests, transforming them into dancing sparkles of gold. The sound was hypnotic. Few words could express its majestic beauty.
I turned to my sister, wondering if her opinions paralleled mine. But when I saw her, I gasped. She no longer looked like a fish. She looked like... a jewel- a flashing, amber jewel, against a lapping, blue setting. She looked like the sun in the sky... on land.
I realized that this was how I must appear to her.
I then focused my gaze to a narrow, white stretch in the distance. I could catch thin, blurry figures moving along its length. Behind them were... I had learnt about them... trees. Bright, green, healthy trees, with a sturdy bark and thick undergrowth. I could identify the colors of red and magenta dotted on their branches.
Overhead, I could see winged creatures- birds- soaring gracefully. Whether it was a flock of seagulls, or a mighty, solitary eagle, they spent a majority of their time in air.
Then it struck me- I operated in water, birds operated in air, and those vague figures... humans, I think...operated on land.
Three spheres of life.
Could there be... another one? One I've never heard of, or dreamed of, or will hear about? Could there be life on the flames of fire, or on a vast, gleaming expanse of metal?
The possibilities are endless.
And, some part of me intuitively knew- there is a fourth sphere of life on the Earth.
Kara nudged me. Surprised?
Very. But I neglect to tell her that I had never known existence could sustain on a domain other than water.
Or maybe she already knows.
Either way, hopefully if I go looking for adventure, adventure will come looking for me.
Four spheres of life.
I relish the thought.
And I know exactly where to begin looking.
As I turned to leave the surface, only one phrase was embedded in my mind.
Four worlds in one planet.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Strength Against Strength

The creature lay concealed under layers of the sea
intimidating, frightening, would it grimly scour the ocean
with its omniscient, swiveling eye, as invincible as could be
one bout of incensed rage could set its surroundings into motion

Its prey thrived in wariness of its stealthy approach,
its coordinated movement, its synchronized arrival
living in terror- its land they would mistakenly encroach-
for the creature incessantly hunted down its nameless rivals

Its powers seldom wavered, only enhanced and grew,
until then came that unexpected twist of fate
of ships from the modern world- utterly out of the blue,
which is the reason the creature is not alive up to date

What predicament took place is no big mystery-
man emerged the powerful, brandishing a victory


There it proudly stood, planted at the eve
of the fulfillment of autumn, after an uneventful year,
colored viridescent with its coatings of fresh, tender leaves
though supremely menacing with its size so sheer

It disarmed its neighbors with the rate at which it would grow
and the thick, rough bark, pigmented a rugged golden brown,
it was home to the birds who would rest on its boughs,
it was home to the young animals who would seek refugee on the ground

It had been granted leverage from the time it had sprout
until then came that unexpected twist of fate
and for the first time, surfaced that dubious seed of doubt-
cranes, construction maps, the point when man's influence would culminate

What predicament took place is no big mystery-
man emerged the powerful, brandishing a victory


Yet, though man and nature are at war through the day and night,
since when has the latter ever given in without a fight?
Natural disasters, collapse of the food chain-
we must comprehend its cause before
its too late, for nature is equal to man, if not more

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Further and Far

While verging on sleep, blearily staring at the glass,
I saw a flash of spectral white pass
hovering, against the pallor of the night,
a solitary, restless, source of light

Whipping, as I could realize, through the window so clear,
I felt a rush of excitement, much too saturated for fear
While quick thought was restrained when in the shackles of sleep,
my mind sought to rejuvenate the concealed metaphor so deep
And as the unearthly mass came closer and soared higher,
I slowly focused my gaze to a flexible, glinting wire
With mild success, I attempted to optically reach its root,
and once I did, to my mind- understanding would bombard and shoot
I squinted and saw- two miniature, silhouetted figures,
the end of the wire of which was firmly grasped by the bigger
Amazed by the negligible speed of intellect during the tedious night,
it ultimately dawned upon me- they were flying a kite

I shoved open the creaking window,
the pleasure of anticipation etched on my face,
to find the hardy, cloth kite employed in a ballet-
levitating with such grace
In the midst of a pirouette, with nothing to support it
but the unsteady, glacial air
creating a melange of dances, so intimately
soothing and rare
The wind was omnipotent at such a time,
coupled with the extreme high rise,
sending wintry shivers down my spine,
evoking tears from my eyes
It was the first that I ever consciously observed the night-
the very first time
kindling feelings impossible to decipher,
near improbable to mime
The hue of the sky was straying from black,
since artificially shrouded by dust
which sent the kite lingering due to currents from
the wind and an intermittent gust
Yet, beyond the sky, when paying utmost attention,
I could catch beings that would spark and twinkle,
through the thickening veil of growing smoke,
with its depleting holes and wrinkles
It lilted its path from civilization and sight,
soaring to untraceable, unimaginable heights
and I could barely, tangibly spot it-
just as whipping structure of white
I watched and stared in evident dismay
as the kite coolly escaped from the dark's wind and its fray
From flaying in discomfort, it commenced a sagely drift,
as its elevation and my awe experienced a rapid lift

Though, by urbanization, the night's serenity has undergone a mar,
and that the dusty, pastel sky is accepted- it's what the shades are,
its beauty was enhanced, as the kite floated further and far,
blending in, camouflaging, poised to become another star