Thursday, August 31, 2023

A Phoenix’s Flight

Composed this for a dear friend Komal in an attempt to capture her journey so far and the person she is. The concept and content was shared by another dear friend Adarsh. Both Adarsh and I have had the privilege to know, befriend and work with Komal during all our formative Teach For India (TFI) years. The conversations, exchanges and love persists. 

---  

A gentle, fierce creature, opened her eyes, cried out, 

born out of ashes, a struggle which so many like her

do not come alive out of

In a city, not without the battles of its own 

Her baby wings fluttered, though only in the cage 

With the bars of patriarchy, chauvinism, injustice

She learned, through observation, through pain 


And from her the bigger birds in the same cage, 

under their wing she grew,

shielded from the oppressors if only for a while

They helped spread her wings to their full might

In a flight to set the course of her journey

The maiden flight was to a city of riches and ravages alike

Where she saw many more birds, some free, many caged 


And experienced joy, love, thought - a life outside the cage

The fierceness grew, in service of others 

of big and small little creatures

Most from their own cages of poverty and hurt 

A guardian to them, helping them sprout wings

She also lived possibilities and security

With birds who saw the change of seasons as she


Caged or not, but definitely fellow travellers 

Soaring high and far, with her, nudging her ahead

But the flight was not without the obstacles

Stones were hurled, pain returned

no more just a fledgling, she lost few companions midair

Then our gentle fierce creature found 

a fellow soarer, a significant other 


She delivered a violent blow to the cage

And her fellow birds blessed and celebrated 

Braving all clippings, criticisms, our creature

Our phoenix has risen in another flight 

Piercing, and herself being the light

A journey determined by her own spirit

Guiding others in the cage to soar higher.



The beloved TFI school team, as a result of which we got to know and love each other. 
From left - Shefali, Adarsh, Komal, me and Varsha. 





 

No comments:

Post a Comment