the home coming

My joyous steps went out the door, like the forth splash of wave on the shore, i walked out in full glee, with eyes on the world before me; i stepped into the blooming woods, held my breath and silently stood, gazed around with a sigh satisfied, that i had got the destination right, the frangrant flowers, the tall trees, the green grass, the canopy, the cool breeze and the light mist, a flawless painting by a perfect Artist, the boundless beauty, the amazing art, but what pincheddeepmy heart, a slight touch to the flower beneath, was as if a knife was uncovered of a sheath, drier it went and lost the charm, shocked was i because i was the cause of harm, wiping the tears and hushing the cries, away i went, just as the wind dies. Iwalked along the wind in grief, like the wanderer, the autumn leaf, it leftme on the banks of a river, its last blow made me shiver, it left me alone to watch the waters, i felt like those young daughters, married off and leftaway, except her, the rest are gay; the rushing water, flowing without a sieze, running and rejoicing as if had a release, down i stepped, closer i went, wished if it slowed, just for a moment, but it didn't even notice me, it was too eager to meet the sea, i touched it and harder it flowed, i wished if it just slowed, to share my agony and my pain, but my wishes and tears went in vain, and my hand it stroke away, i didn'twant anymore to stay, the sighes of sorrow and tears of anguish, wondered if they would ever vanish, but i didn'tleave stepping ahead, and inscribed on heart everything i had read. Sometime later, strange place i found, opened my eyes wide and looked around, nothing was strange, it was just an open space, dry and dead, a deserted place, sand had a clutch on it from every side, on the shoulders of wind, the sand did glide, i held a handful in my fist, tightened my hand and bent my wrist, but to my sorrow, the sand found way, to escape from me, in the scorching day, and then the wind came by again, whispered in ears, unveiling the unknown pain, said if they all had to stay with me, away i would never see them flee, and this i knew in the heart of hearts, with this end, a new beginning starts. Iclosed the eyes, tired with tears, got the view of a universe there, the morning dew on roses, the daffodils of Wordsworth, the moonlit night and the warmth of hearth, the lake in its full glory of quietude, the vast home of rivers, but the sea of solitude, the thirst for truth, unending and wild, the heat of desires was but mild, then i took the steps into that door, like the retiring of wave on the shore.... by Mehvish Altaf......