Anusha

14

The Constant Battle

Perching on the curb by the street,
A melodious tune
Catches the attention of a little girl.
Racing for the ice-cream truck,
She could already taste
The sweet-and-sour Popsicle on her tongue.
Smiling, her brother joins her
And buys one for himself.
Sweet syrup
Drips down their chins
As they licks the luscious treat.
Cars pass.
The sun goes down.
Time stands still.
The victory was effortless today.

Unnatural blue water
Pierce
The little girl’s shivering skin.
Blinding rays illuminate the waters
She can’t let the enemy win.
The timid little girl knows
To conquer her next adventure,
She must acquire enough courage
To vault into icy waves.
A pair of arms catch her.
The strong, welcoming hands
Of her father
Hug her
As she grins in triumph.

Thrusting her hair into a frenzy,
A sliver of cool breeze rushes through the sky.
A silver bike laced with violet streamers
Races down the hill.
Blinking back tears,
Blinded her for terrifying minute,
A little girl grips the handle bars,
Her heart palpitating,
While her knuckles turn white.

The smooth pavement,
Nothing but a forgotten dream,
Never to be reached.
Tipping sideways,
The handle bars entwine with streamers.
She doesn’t let go.
The girl and her companion fall as one.
She felt a gentle throbbing along her shin.
Gradually intensifying,
The pain turns to blood.
Frightened,
She staggers home,
Abandoning her ally.

Her mother
Cleans her wounds,
Bandaging the gash.
Showing off her battle scars,
The girl stands proud.
Content with driving the enemy out.

Never would she let excitement lose.
Adventure always remained the victor.
The little girl knew
Feeling pleasure was the one purpose of summer.
Everyday must be a new thrill.

Years pass.
The war steadily turns away from her favor.
The enemy grows stronger.
The thrill of childhood soon abandoned.
The girl soon forgets who she is fighting against.

The pool still sparkles
With it’s frigid, wild deeps.
Her best battle ground
Lies forgotten.

The ice cream truck
Still plays its melodious tune.
The girl no longer pursues it.
Her best weapon
Lies forgotten.

The bike rusts in the garage.
Surrounded by cob-webs,
The girl’s best soldier
Lies forgotten.

The enemy has won.
The eternal war ended.