Flying Kites

(Day 17: Thirty day poetry challenge  :: Story Style)
I saw him flying a kite
the other day
On the terrace
Of my neighbouring house

He seemed to talk to the Gods
As his kite
Glided thru the clouds

He seemed so much at peace
Pursuing a hobby
Which seemed to have
no returns at all

Why do I
Worry so much
Why can I not
Do some idling like
him after all

I took courage
and approached him
To teach me to connect
to the clouds

He smiled serenely
And offered me the twine
I refused saying
I would crash it in no time

He laughed and guided me
by action
When to pull When to tug
When to let it soar

After what seemed like an hour
I learned to handle the ropes
To pull back, guide the flow
and when to let it go

All this while
not a word he had spoken
Just gestures and smiles
as encouraging tokens

Suddenly a couple
rushed in
breaking the moment
Grabbing him Hugging him
Pulling him away

He calmly handed me
the kite string
And gestured me
To keep it flying

I suddenly realised
that he was dumb
and could not speak

On enquiring
I found from his parents
He had cancer
on his tongue
And it was just
a matter of few weeks

I was at a loss and
my knees started crumbling
Why was I living life
With so much grumbling

I wished him well
And promised to keep his kite flying
And in my heart of heart
I willed myself
To throw caution to the wind
Dance without thinking why
Cherish each moment
And fly kites in the sky

When to pull When to tug
When to let it soar
Daily life is like kite flying
My life can be much more

(Written by Jibrael Jos )