Stranger at the River Bank

I wanted to be alone and myself

needed to gather the scattered thoughts

and to escape the gloomy spell of social norms

casted upon me

So I took a walk to the river bank

where no one else went

Where no else but I thought the river looked beautiful

There he was

watching the water with such intensity

as if he was reveling in its beauty

and being fed from its strength

I wondered; if he was a hunter or just a prey…

Then he turned and looked at me

He didn’t smile, he didn’t greet

He didn’t snarl, nor did he chase me away

But he saw me

and accepted my presence silently

he moved back and forth

then made space for me

I stood next to him

there we stood on a lonely river bank

marveling at the beauty of the fierce river flow

drawing strength and warmth from each other

standing so close and yet so far away

knowing the time has come to leave

back to the lives we have sneaked away from

but unable to leave a stranger’s silent company

I wanted to be alone and my self

and on the lonely river bank I found my lost self

and a stranger with whom I could be my self

But…it was years too late

 

© Vindhya Colombage