If truth were a tale...

I live on a tree that kisses the moon in a forest far far away

For my hideous face, none would like, nor man, nor beast nor bird of prey

Five suns past my day of birth mercilessly was I thrashed and thrown,

I cried, I wept, I knelt and begged for mercy to be shown;

They cursed, they kicked, they screamed and said, “To evil you bear semblance!”

The heart I had, it withered and died in this pitch dark forest’s obscene silence

But hither hours turned to days, days to months and those to years

Time reformed all, named pain a companion and dispelled all my fears

Until one day, fate dealt a different card

Disbelief stopped my steps and for once the night seemed starred

For beneath a tree she sat, as if in a trance

At that sight did my wilted heart blossom and enhance

For she looked at me and did not flee

But gifted me a smile filled with glee

‘How did you reach this wretched woods? ‘ spoke I

‘I slipped and fell,’ she sang ‘from the endless deep blue sky.’

For days and days we laughed and danced

Not once my ugly past had I glanced

She said she wouldn’t leave me for the heavens above

And promised that I was the only one she’d love

And I forgot all the injustices fate had washed towards my shore

Who could believe that this was life and not a tale or lore?

To adorn her I wanted gems and to the village we drifted to look for them

As she saw the people, I saw her and on her face did an emotion stem

‘They look like me’ she spoke beneath her breath

‘None as beautiful as thou,’ I said, ‘ in life or death.’

Before I retreated to my sleep, I thanked the heavens for a gift so dear

With whom was entwined my every cheer

And then the sun sprang up and scattered light

I waited to hear the maiden’s hum, that dawned my day and wiped my night

But alas! There was nothing I could hear or see but a broken chain and shattered beads

Why had she left? Had I faltered? Didn’t my love shine through my deeds?

While I searched for her through the jungle, to tame my thirst I bent down

And in the lake I saw my answer, and I decide that my hideous self should drown.