THE CONVICT
The convict had stopped ,
exhausted , starved and willing to surrender
to the guards on his tail.
To the front stood
The labyrinth , the mysterious forest
famous for its tricks and ruthlessness.
While behind were the royal guards
turning every nook and corner in the search of him .
The convict unable to stay erect
had collapsed to the ground.
Consumed by the agony in his limbs ,
to see the stars he turned around.
As he lay there , waiting to be caught
he could not help but feel the dread of being executed.
Like a lamb for slaughter he lay there
awaiting the butcher’s fatal swing.
He could feel the stillness take a hold of him
Until he heard a familiar voice ring.
It was his old man ,
the man he had killed.
Standing over him with all his glory and splendour,
apart from the stab in his neck.
Looking at him the convict smiled
“I thought you were dead ,
or did I not bury you deep enough ?”
The old man said nothing
and continued to mysteriously look at him.
“So this is how it ends?
Oh ! do tell me father , have you come
to take me to hell? “
“Tp heaven or to hell is not what I
but what the Lord will judge“ the old man did say.
“ For your time hasn’t come,
get up and fight , my dear son.”
“Why are you here father ?
For about me you did never care”
“Aye I didn’t and look where it got the both of us.
There is no shame greater than being murdered by your own son
But there isn’t a greater sense of pride
than the one in redeeming his life.”
“Father are you really here ,
Or is it just a trick of the mind.
For I do not wish to waste my time with you,
now that I am about to die.”
“My son , it is your choice ,
for I have come to make amends.
My erroneous ways have led to this.
I beg you keep faith and
for some more time with me please bear.”
The convict was overwhelmed
his father was never so warm
when he was alive.
Tears rolled down as he said
“ I am broken father , beyond repair.
I have lost everything and am a waste.”
“My son , this is not the end.
Go into the forest and escape
for you have another chance , awaiting
a new life , a new day.
Go on my son
for the night is young
and the forest is dark.
Tread on the path
You feel righteous.
For it is your own choice
that will lead you to your freedom.
You must not stop , my son ,
however tired you may be
for the forest is treacherous and temptations will arise.
Be resilient and walk on.
But my son do look back
for it is fools who do not look
to see what they have left behind.
It is always the wise who do not forget
And , seek to find out the best , from the path
they have traversed on.
Be brave my son
For the darkness will intimidate you
but the goodwill in your heart
will lead you to victory.
Be bold my son ,
For this forest is treacherous ,
it will show you familiar faces
but do not seek their company ,
for they would stab you with their daggers
behind your back , without a moment’s haste.
Go on my son , go on
before it gets any darker.
Go on till there is some light in you.
For at the end of the night
The sun will dawn , a new beginning
is what you must crave.
The convict overcoming all his pain
stood a new man , a battered one nonetheless.
He hugged his father and
towards the forest he went.
Finally ready to believe
in the greater good , that his
father had always said.
