unreflectedsoul

Your prayers are answered but you're too busy praying you don't notice

A man with skin darkened from years of the Sun’s molesting walks through the desert at a quick pace. His skinny legs treading on a track hidden by the mask of the landscape. The desert’s many shapes and forms changing any landmark, leaving anyone virgin to the desert desperately lost. This man knew his way. How? Only he and God knew. Looking down only a few times to catch the shadow of a retreating snake’s tail or to take a second glance at that lizard shaped rock move. He walks with determination. Looking up to the sky with a sort of useless hope, he heaves a big sigh. Knowing his way through the ever changing landscape of his home, knowing every creature’s intentions and have them know his, he had full command of where he stood. In the middle of nowhere, he knew where he was. The only thing unknown and unpredictable to him was whether the Sun’s months of parching every water based creature would finally come to an end and let the clouds pass by unharmed. But the man knew too well that hoping was useless. He needs to make this walk to make up for what he cannot depend on.

He reaches the waterhole. The animals there hardly noticing his presence. All feeling a mutual need to ignore each other and silently revel in the fact that there is some sort of relief from the relentless heat. He fills his water bottles and arranges them neatly behind his back. He stays there for just a few more moments to wash his hands and face. His bony frame shivers with excitement as the water trickles down his neck and chest. Feverish hands controlled by his considerate nature. Telling them not to be greedy and leave before he causes the waterhole to dry up quicker than usual. The trickling of water down his face, neck and body lessen quickly in the heat and light. He looks at the small waterhole. A puddle in the massive ocean-less beach he lives in. Only the ripples made by the eager animal’s tongue disturbs the glass-like image of this puddle a whole ecosystem, depends on. The man’s reflection untouched by the ripples, untouched by the wind. And thankfully, untouched by the Sun. His perfect reflection is suddenly penetrated by tiny drops of something. The trickling of water down his face, neck and body returns, but he remains still. The drops of water turn solid as they silently hit the ground. As unceremonious as they had arrived, they left. Still not knowing what had just happened, the man looks up; only to catch the last remaining rain drops in his eye. Instinctively he shuts his eyes and from the one rain drop savoured, more drops of water appear to leave his eyes. Had he missed what he had forever longed for? No he had not missed it. it had missed him. He, present and alive at that moment in time felt the rain without knowing it was rain. He, still wet from the brief and blessed shower stood there almost unsure how he had come to be so. And now his tears fell without fully knowing the cause. So suddenly had what we prayed for arrived that he had no time to savour it before it left him only to pray once more.

posted by Yani Malai @ 3:22 PM