As I sat on the
Four-legged piece of wood
With my hands and foot
Bound together with bloody ropes
That had seen many a struggle
My lips held together
With a tattered old rag
With all my hopes
Drowned in the sea of helplessness
With all my senses
Crying out in weariness
With all my pains
Lost in its own grievances
Amidst all this, memories flooded back
Like mist, into my mind.
Before I could react,
They captured me and took me
Took me to another world
The world of reminiscence
Lost, though I was
I saw many faces in that world
Those were familiar to me
I saw my mother’s face
Wet with drops of tears
But of joy or sorrow
I couldn’t make out
Her soft hands outstretched
I saw her give her little one
One last tight embrace.
Then I saw my father’s face
Beaming with pride
He left me with these words,
“If your fate tells you
To do your nation good
And if you have faith
Then I have faith in you, dear child,
I have faith in you.”
Then I saw the merry face
Of my dear brother
Whose words, though unsaid
Expressed through a wink
And a pleasing smile
Filled my heart with warmth
Kindling it with glee and gratitude.
But these were mere memories
Of the day that altered my life
The day I had left home
And gone far to serve my country.
As I sat alone there
Bound to that wooden chair
Little was not the effect
That these memories brought in me
They stirred my pride
Filled me with courage
Empowered my tendons
Surging in me, the feeling
That I have a country to guard
And her children to serve.
I summoned all my strength
And broke those chains
That held me bound.
I set my foot on the ground
Looked at what lay ahead
I took those long painful steps
As I have a country to guard
And her children to serve.
