My first step was broken,
a stumble, a misstep,
suddenly falling down,
I stared at ground,
finding comfort in the warm earth.
Tucked in a blanket of grass,
I found comfort,
letting the trees of knowledge
take root.

My next step was messy,
the half starts and tangled roots.
Shaking of the earth that had
protected me.
Keeping tight hold on gems,
found in the darkest recesses
of my heart and mind,
crystalized reflections
of time and experience.

Each step that followed
pulled my foot from the dark
clay that held on.
All moment staggering
but every step loosening
the fears that buried me,
until they became dust
on my boots.

As my steps became lighter,
I began to move,
run so fast and so far,
that my dreams had to catch
up to me.

© Manivillie Kanagasabapathy