Stepping Through

Part - I of the Poem for the Portal Prompt Submission for Indie Ink Fund

The forest doesn't beckon,
It thrives on its own,
not bothered with presence or people...
While walking its trails, I often find myself
drawn to its exposed roots,
adding to the majestic, 
powerful, invincible,
lichen-ridden grove.

Neither worried by death nor decay,
nor tense about birth and rebirth,
It embodies all, content to the extent
enviable across realms and lore.

On one such stroll through this
haven of green and brown hues,
I noticed a small cave-like entrance,
submerged within the roots,
leading nowhere in particular,
but sitting in the dark,
reflecting shadows to me,
similar to the ones clouding my mood.

While I stood staring at it,
but not really looking,
It seemed it breathed, released a sigh,
turned a bit blue,
a hinge and a screw yawning free
from its frame, nudging through,
to open perhaps, or
just to show that it could move, 
a strange invitation from a portal,
sitting tight in the grove.    

Before one could blink, 
or fathom what was afoot,
the glow from within and behind it,
shimmered in shades of green and blue,
drawing me further in, 
to finally bestow light upon 
a large winged insect
of a size that would scare the daylights
out of me and you!!

It was not fearsome for its size,
just a rare sight,
evoking instincts of fight or flight,
But veterans of curiosity like me, 
do not stumble easily, 
without ensuring that a threat was live.

We only go in shock, stilled by fright,
unable to scream! 
I kept hoping it was a dream,
That would handle itself, 
without any interference required from me!
But curiosity gave a harder push,
tempting me to step into this world
that my trusted forest had opened up for me.
The glow, the wings, the firelight
reflecting on the surroundings,
led me through this secret, 
that the forest was now eager to reveal to me.

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Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for Part II of Stepping through this portal… we shall see whether dread or delight awaits me at the other end of this journey :)

The artwork has been painted by yours truly with watercolours on a 200 gsm A5-sized watercolour paper. Metallic acrylic colours and a black micron pen were used for detailing.

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The submissions for the Portal Prompt by the Indie Ink Fund are about to close at the end of this month, sharing the link below if you wish to submit your artwork or write-up.

🌀 PORTALS: New Beginnings 🌀