Little Red Balloon

It was a moonlit night, the day I got lost

one of those where the shadows disappear and reappear

at whim

The path along the river led me into a forest

Tree tops hung close above,

whispering secrets till dawn, when the sun's piercing gaze

finally forced them apart.

Yet now, the moon's gentle glances did not do so

and the path ahead got dark

and darker

Abuzz and alight,

alive and cacophonous

the usual hubub of the forest in the day

was but a steady hum at night

High up, among the secret sharers

floated a little red balloon

It pulled and it struggled

on a branch it fumbled.

Till at last it broke free

and took a tumble

straight into me!

Oh no, where did it go?

Thump

ThumpThump

Thud

ThudThud

I could hear its beats

one two and three

Yet no sight of it,

after it knocked into me

I kept on walking,

eager to find the light

out of this forest

and back into the moonlit gaze.

Dodge to the left

a voice within me said

I did.

Missed me a branch,

crashing by beside

Take the right of the forked roads

a voice within me said

I did.

Missed me a drop - sharp drop -

straight into a ravine

At last the path opened up

into a clearing

dazzling hues of blues

reflecting of leaves covered in dew

The sun had risen from its sleepy stupor

while I was in the forest

Along I walked further,

tall houses appeared closer.

The townsfolk gasped and pointed,

How did you come out,

of the forest unscathed

when all who go in perish,

how do you not even have a graze?

Aghast and a little confused

I looked around for an answer.

Something did feel different

not including the townsfolk all

looking highly bemused.

Till at last my gaze fell,

on the red glow I saw.

It came from my chest

The little red balloon

all snuggled in and set.

This is what I followed

I mused out loud.

I followed its voice

and the glow from its heart.

Thump thump

Thud thud

Showing me the way

What before sat empty

Bright red glow now

Where before it was grey.

Prashamsa Manchiraju