Father 4 - My Father's Voice! Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

My parents let me dream and dream!
So, as a child, I always dreamed and dreamed;
To fly and fly high, into the azure blue sky,
Spreading my wings like a migrant bird,
Trying to race with the speeding wind,
Gliding, floating, between the puffy clouds,
Like a princess among the birds,
Like an angel of the pink skies,
Drifting like a butterfly among the flowers,
Dancing on the wings of sweet imagination!

My father observed my fanciful flights.
One day, he gently warned me:
'Before you fly so high,
Make sure your wings are strong,
Mighty wings with protective layers,
Long, curved, pointed wings,
Paddled with rows of feathers.
And, never become too proud,
Of your talent or achievements,
That you strut your nosy beak up in the air,
As vanity may lead you into a steep fall.
But alas, you should fall into the deep seas,
Learn to dive and swim along with the waves,
Until you safely reach the shores of Mother Earth.'

When I grew up,
I heard my father's voice warning me,
Of the consequences of an egotistic journey
Into an unknown, frightening territory.
If I did not heed his advice,
I knew, I would get lost!

I stopped flying into dreamy destinations
Of great heights and vast spaces,
Instead, decided to remain on earth,
Singing and dancing to my heart's delight,
To remain, grounded and rooted,
To be with my beloved family
In my little abode on earth,
Forever joyful and peaceful!