Submerged…and then?

(You will eventually come up for air)

Image by Rhea Ranjan, Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India, 2015

Strong it stood

Against the tidal wave of flood water

That thrashed against its spine

Rushing, rising, falling, flowing

Pushing against its back, shoulders and roots

The single rooted twig stood strong

Against the onslaught of the roadside flooding

For some reason this twig makes me proud

Makes me hopeful and empowered to walk on through

Yes through this monsoon

Yes through this ankle deep flooding

But perhaps through a rushing, drowning onslaught all into myself

Never quite understanding why

At times such freedom fills my lungs and heart

That I am weightless

As a child’s laugh

While at others

I struggle to breathe, gasping at at the amass of memories, hopes that are now demands, dreams that are now chains

So I think to myself,

This twig is a brave sign

Maybe

When I am always looking for signs

In anything

I look up to the sky and through the rain – maybe I can-

And look down again…it’s gone

Submerged and swallowed

And our car moves on

I suppose if it lives to stand another day

After all has been washed away and cleaned

Its roots will grow deeper, it’s spike stronger and its soft bark, harder

It may branch and grow on its stronger centre

Into a tree under which others find shelter

Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…

Maybe