Sunday, January 24, 2010

EXTRACT FROM AN ELEPHANT STORY

SAID HAZEL TO HER SON

Said the Mother elephant to her son at last.

"Often will the unpitying violence of truth judge you in all your nakedness . Every morning will you run away from the heartless gaze of the mirror . Every day will you find it hard to look your own child in the eye because you erected an effigy where he sought an icon . And you decked that effigy to cheat your son. But children know ropes from snakes . Your voice that to an infant's ear should music have been will for ever sound like a thud of a corpse falling from heights . That is the sound of falsehood imploding. You will not be forgiven for never have you known what it means to forgive, though your vengeance always had the colors of courtesy. And your desire roamed the streets of this town in love's clothing. You learnt to spin colorful yarns and those yarns pleased you and pleased others. Do you expect that in return for a life time of rolling in the muck, you will receive even a whiff of fragrance ? The stink of carcasses fills thy soul . You will beat your breast but instead of music of melancholy, only the hollow sounds will fill the empty skies ."
But having thus spoken the truth to her dearest child, Hazel became somber and quiet . Then she spoke softly again. "And yet, " said she in almost inaudible murmur, "though you deserve none of this, you will yet be loved and forgiven because this universe knows no language other than love and forgiveness . But that love and that forgiveness will forever your crosses be till you bathe in the fountains of love that break forth from your soul ."

After this, Hazel stood there silent and pensive for a long long while . She was sad for her child whom she could not save from himself .

1 comment:

harcharan bains said...

a son's journey towards his mother