on a sunlit morn, I took a jungle stroll,
and found a book by a moss-veiled knoll.
the black book cover bore the frontispiece of a serpent,
coiling the branch of a tall tree—
a curse of fate, a stygian curse.

should I open the book or leave it sealed away?
curiosity crept in, like a thief in the night.
who could tame this restless, wandering mind?
I surrendered to its pull and opened the pages wide—

a vision of a place I had heard of as a child appeared—
a land tranquil and pure—
marked by one command—
where the serpent coils around a forbidden tree.

I longed to witness their bond.
like Alice, tumbling through shimmering glass,
and craved to unravel the tales of that magical land.

I stepped into a vibrant and bright
land bathed in perpetual golden light.
birds soared high, their songs a balm to the soul,
the eagle, regal, claimed the skies,
the sparrow flitted with joyous surprise.
parrots in colours brilliant and bold,
cuckoos crooned, their melody light and gold.
peacocks pranced, their feathers gleamed,
each bird, in its way, brought joy to the land,
a symphony of harmony, as if all were planned.

each creature blissful, wild, and carefree.
here, all seemed perfect, as if a dream to be.
the land, pure and untouched by time,
offered only joy, only light, sublime.

but beneath this paradise’s sunlit sky,
a shadow lingered, something awry.
a fleeting silence, a stillness too long,
the breeze now carried a different song.

I smiled, a strange warmth filled the air,
everything seemed perfect and inviting

I felt at peace, but doubt lingered slow,
trusting, but wondering—was it safe to follow?
yet I took those steps, driven by the unknown glow.

the whomping willow danced to a melancholic string.
the tree of knowledge reached for heavens deep and wide,
while the green man tree chuckled, a timeless guide.
the walking trees swayed, a symphony of old,
the bonsai tree told tales of harmony untold,
and the Yggdrasil wove through time’s gentle fold.

but the image, printed in the book,
lingered in my mind.
were the stories I had heard merely meant to lull?
or had my grown-up mind misunderstood?

I moved forward,
with each step, the world shifted slight.
a strange sensation—an unsettling flicker,
a tug of change, a shift in the air.

I continued, the spell still thick,
my steps light, yet something was amiss.
a pull, a whisper—a scene ahead,

a yellow serpent, smiling, coils round the forbidden tree,
the tree, mighty and strong bends to the serpent’s will.
their silent pact—a lingering danger still.

“welcome to the heart of the wild,”
the serpent whispered; its voice beguiled.
its words sweet, promising much to those who dared,
but behind that charm, a darkness flared.
its eyes, molten gold, could ensnare,
while its breath, sweet and venomous, filled the air.

with every step, the curse grew near,
as the serpent’s laughter whispered fear.
it coiled the tree tight, shaking its roots,
and together, they they ruled, unyielding in pursuit.

the serpent and the tree, cursed in their sway,
poisonous partners in a deadly ballet.
weaving a web, a deadly trance.
the serpent smiled, its grip now complete,
the tree, once glowing, now withered and weak.

more and more, as I turned these cruel pages,
thoughts like restless spectres delved into the chimeras of tomorrow.
what truths lie within the final breath of ink?
how can the spell be unspun, if indeed it is to be unspun?

I thrust the book aside as if haunted,
whether the tale bleeds into dawn or dark,
with gentle resolve, I chose to move on..

all reveals itself in time, perhaps,
when discord stirs, a new path will call.
when chaos reigns, a road will beckon;
through storms, strength and hope are found.
and dawn will break, gifting happiness evermore.
darkness will fade, and hearts will soar,
as divine wisdom guides us to secure shores.

…

Beena E. S is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Marthandam. She has published a novel titled “Thorns of Love.” Additionally, her numerous poems have featured in reputable platforms, including Indian Periodicals, RIC journal, Pashyantee and the Wing word Long List 2023. One of her poems also appeared in the December 2023 issue of Beetle magazine.