Like a swarm
of locusts, it comes, consuming all in its path that's green and full of life,
leaving everything to dust and condemned to nothingness. It leaves you
displaced, like sands swept from the yellow shores by the cold river that
brings them down to the ocean floor. It cuts your veins and steals your
colours, like a rose plucked from its pedestal of thorns, only waiting to
wither.
It comes at
dawn and takes away the unborn baby from the mother's womb. It comes at noon
and envies the heart of the young boy, full of love and passion, and snatches
the beloved away in a flash of a lightning, letting darkness creep slowly into
his soul. It comes in the late afternoon, but no one hears its footsteps; and all
who dare to listen are silenced by its malice. It comes in the dark of night
and steals her past, and all the love she ever knew. It comes in silence, and
comes only to take. It takes all it wants, and takes even more. And leaves in
its place, promises in the dark.
But as you
journey through life, something and someone makes you realize.... It came to you
one Spring morning and shared a smile, a laugh, a drink. It came one scorching
Summer day and carried you to a distant shade. It came one gloomy afternoon in
Autumn, and gave a kiss you never will forget. It came to you in the coldest
Winter evening and offered a blanket of warm skin. It comes to you when least
expected, when least hopeful. It comes in silence, but comes to give. It comes
to bring to you a light - to guide you through the night.
It gives and
takes, and takes and gives. It takes too much and gives too many. It takes some
more and takes too plenty, but gives you some then gives a bounty. It takes
your joy and brings you sorrow, and takes your pain and brings you comfort. It
is the giver, it is the taker and all it takes and all it gives, it does it so,
just for you.
Tommy Remchhunga Chhangte recently graduated from Govt. Aizawl College and plans to continue his studies in English literature. We wish him every success and hope he continues to write.
