The Choice

By Ashwath Ramesh

In fearful calm I sat, across the hall,

As I watched the spat, a ping-pong ball,

This way and that, a cat on a wall,

Replaying years past, I had seen it all...

One a glowing brand, full of flame...

Quick to blow, quick to quench...

One a brimming gland, never the same...

Steady and slow, deep as a trench...

Fierce they fought, in words, in thought,

For years and years, thus I thought...

There I watched, detached in shock,

As hands raised, to defame, to shock...

Fierce they fought, in deed, in self,

As I watched, a cowering elf...

One my seed, birth of my line...

One my soil, bearer mine...

There I chose, my jump off the wall,

There I leaned, I crossed the hall...

A word of warning, a sleight of hand,

I had taken my teary stand...

There I chose, my defining call...

A moment to shake them all...

My present, my future, my very past...

My heart, my soul, my mind cast...

My greatest choice, no saving grace...

My hardest choice, one none must face...

I took it then, warring alone, in feary peace...

I hold it yet, warring alone, in many a piece...

By Ashwath Ramesh