Words

He only saw a speech bubble from the paper's cartoon section. The facial expressions and gestures were clear-that is the action. 'Hagar the Horrible' waving a sword in the name of protecting the nation. All that he saw in a paper's section. And he yearned to grasp its meaning. It's the funny characters that seized his attention. For though they were segregated they showed some relation. A jewel they seemed to be - why would mom fix her eyes on them for so long? Neared to her lap he did, But mom put her cartoons down and gave him a 'STOP NOW' glare. Being a tiny toddler of two years His curiosity no one could silence. From his still barren vocabulary, he managed to pull out a 'what' question. With his worm-like finger he was able to point at the section in question. Albeit her irritation, the mother managed to say: Son, When I was two years your senior These characters you see invaded my eyes bits by bits In groups they went straight into my mind. They further regrouped, And, finally, I realised. They were alphabets Mating to form words Words that formed sentences Sentences that told a story A story of grief and misery And of happiness and jubilation. And there I was Hungrily swallowing it in Blades escaped their sheaths To force their way Through my chocolate skin So that tears streamed down my face For I was but just reading. Son, you will realise and comprehend, In time.