Incomparable Taste

By Dr. Barbara S. Sangma

I was an untameable girl,

Always on the lookout for adventures;

I wanted to be a hero at one time;

And after reading one or two hagiography-

I thought I was well on my way to sainthood!

But I courted mischief and invited trouble,

Well knowing the consequences unpleasant.

And I was such a hungry little pest-

Stealing into gardens laden with fruits,

And climbing the trees not meant for me.

Often had I passed that garden,

And countless times had I coveted-

The ruddy luscious fruits hanging there!

One day as I walked without any qualm-

I got into that garden and had a look…

My eyes roamed from fruit to fruit-

Then my arms reached out-

And my fingers picked what I thought

Was the most luscious of them all-

And lost no time in eating it.

No care had I and no fear.

My teeth tore the rind-

And they sank into the fleshy part;

What a heavenly taste!

I lapped up the taste, savouring it.

While the juice dripped

And made small streams

Starting at one corner of my mouth-

Even creating small pools,

In the hollow of my palms.

But the taste of that stolen fruit-

Eaten in a hurry but slow enough.

To relish every fleshy part,

Ah, I have not tasted so sweet a fruit

Since the day I tasted that stolen one!

By Dr. Barbara S. Sangma