She Fled

SHE FLED

Days and weeks slipped by,

And the Little Child with her dreams ran.

On the endless Road of Adventure,

With every step, she sang.

She befriended the birds,

She befriended the lambs.

In her innocent, innocent world,

Cobras didn't have fangs!

Then dawned on her the dread of the night.

Where would she hide herself?

Where would she take her respite?

Afraid was she on hearing the wolves howl,

Who made these creatures, so furious, so foul?

How would she escape from times of fear,

When the tiger's growl was drawing so near!

'Think, O Little One,

Think with all your might.

All fear shall disappear

If only you kindle the light.'

Fire, she whispered,

Fire is the key.

Fire shall get me,

Out of my misery!

With strength and courage she kept on her fight,

From start to end, she never lost her sprite.

She relaxed in a cave after her long day,

And thought of the miracle that had come her way.

Did Fire speak to me?

Did Fire itself guide me?

She looked around hoping to see,

The one who had solved her misery.

No one she found, no one for miles.

Then at the Fire she gazed and smiled.

God's presence is witnessed everywhere,

With her in the jungle, He was still there.

His presence she felt in the kindled light,

He watched over her from above, even at night.

This was the secret that had got her so far,

This was what had given her her power.

Onward she went,

On her road of Adventure,

Until she reached a valley

And befriended a villager.

All that she had missed she got in his home,

Cheese, meat and candies - she felt like the Queen of Rome.

In his hut a whole April she spent,

When the time had come, with gratitude she left.

As she left the village,

Worry gripped her once more.

Where would she go now?

To her, who would open their doors?

The Road was weary,

The night - a gloom.

But then one night,

Her face did bloom!

In the dead of the night,

She heard a few lambs.

In the fire kindled before her,

She saw a a boy - as a shepherd clad.

So fair he seemed to her,

So full of peace.

A strong will governed him,

As he tended his sheep.

She held the leaves apart

And took a step; one or two.

He looked back to see her,

She hid from his view.

Every night she tried to seek him,

Every night she failed.

Every day she called for him,

Over every hill, and every dale.

Every day she tried hard,

For she was determined to find,

The boy who had stolen away,

Her heart and her mind.

The sight of sheep had

Once made her laugh, hope and enjoy!

Now all they brought to her

Was distress, despair and a sigh!

Another night she spent

Brooding away.

Playing with the fire

That helped her while away.

And then she heard the call of a sheep,

"One last time", she said and she peeped.

There stood the Shepherd Boy,

Gazing at her from a shed.

And once again the Little Child

- Turning away, fled!

- Maryam Kaleem

*Part 4 of 'The Little Child' series.