Speed of Sound

We all need heroes. And we all should want to have heroes. Sometimes, they refuse to adorn the physical persona of an individual in the real world, but rather, manifest themselves as an amalgamation of ideas, virtues, that we hold important. Often, we tend to bring out these virtues in times when difficult decisions beckon us, seeking advice from this ‘amalgamation’, this imaginary friend. Here’s my idea of what my imaginary friend exemplifies, and my fervent hope and belief that he is in me. Prompt inspired by Sunday Scribblings and a friend’s GTalk status message.

—–

Enthralling the party with his subtle humor,
He swims comfortably in that shark-infested pond.
But a head, laid firmly on his shoulders, he has,
As he discretely waves his ever magical wand.

A leader among men, such confidence he inspires,
Among friends, foes, and those who feign indifference.
His act, eloquence, resolve, his glowing persona,
Challenging tradition, the world, with gracious reverence.

Loyalty pays homage, at his humble doorstep,
As he gently pulls an arrow from my betrayed back,
He nurses that wound, as he plans the war,
Mindful, but never fearful, of the opposite stack.

He stays true to his once-committed word,
As integrity challenges him to a difficult duel,
Through rigors intense, and obstacles galore,
He rides through those ravines cruel.

He is my dear friend, but my imaginary friend.
A light he leads with, for me, in this darkening age.
In truth, he is me, but with everything that is but me,
And all that separates us, is inhibition’s cage.

The prompt this week at Sunday Scribblings is “Dear Past Me, Dear Future Me”. This got me thinking that if I could, one day, meet myself in the past, what would I be thankful for? If I could meet myself in the future, what insecurities would I want answered?

—–

Down the dark alley, as I walked alone,
I chanced upon a mysterious vortex, unknown.

From it, seemed to emanate, a divine glow,
And time around it, seemed to progress, slow.

Scared, but mesmerized, I jumped right in,
And that’s when my head went out for a spin.

I woke up on a beach, dazed, confused,
In pain, I realized, I was badly bruised.

As I trudged along that sandy shore,
I heard an old man’s satisfied snore.

Ecstatic at not being alone there,
I shook him awake, with little care.

He smiled knowingly, as these words escaped me,
“Who are you, and where are we?”

I am your future, said the old grey man,
And I will tell you the outcome, of your life’s great plan.

You never did marry your present sweetheart,
But a great journey you did, with another, start.

At times you were attracted by other than your spouse,
But you always stayed faithful to your marriage vows.

You never had that son you always wished for,
But your daughter, you came, to infinitely adore.

You never made partner at your firm,
But your wife, when you were late, never did squirm.

You never hit that jackpot, you, so earnestly, craved,
But you grew through those tough times you honestly braved.

You couldn’t afford that lovely house on the beach,
But to your children, great values, under a roof you did teach.

You never made friends with the football star,
But your commoner friend, walked with you, till far.

You weren’t able to visit that exotic island,
But you’ve saved enough in your retirement fund.

So walk on, along this beach, that is your present,
And you’ll see a life, in great satisfaction, spent.

With that, I traced my steps, with a sense of joy,
And that’s when I came across a little boy.

Shocked as I was, at seeing him,
I knew this could not just be a whim.

I am you, when you were all of ten,
Said the boy, when I asked him “when?”

I am you, when your mother tucked you in,
And kissed you lovingly, on your little chin.

I am you, when your pet dog died,
But to protect you from hurt, you father lied.

I am you, when your sister cared for you,
When you wouldn’t recover, from that belligerent flu.

I am you, when your best friend moved,
A decision that wasn’t his, which you vehemently disapproved.

I am you when you stood first in your class,
Yet you played with him, through his grade was just a “pass”.

I am you, when you cried through the night,
When you bore witness to your parents’ fight.

I am you, when you loved every life’s moment,
And every second, in unencumbered joy was spent.

Nostalgic, yet overjoyed, at a childhood blessed,
I carried on, along the beach, with my answered quest.

And at a distance, I could see, the vortex again,
And I knew this time, there would be no pain.