- Poem by Kat Lucas, Grade 10

I was once lost amidst the brambles
my only shelter—
the heat of the jungle

my úarîra
once ran among the elephants
my hair a wild mass of tangles
dangling over a dirt-smeared face
riding on the backs of my
friends, i abused my body

my manasa
clouded by the tendrils of
mist that weave their way through the branches of
twisted tress
splashing around the cool water
I could not comprehend the meaning of kala

my jîva
could not express how
alone
I felt as the elephants slept peacefully,
I pleaded to the stars, let my spirit fly!
let me glide among the clouds and be free of the boa constricting my soul!

my cry was answered—
kala found me

out of the jungle family came
bearing dayâ. gently they
spoke with me and my soul soared on the
wings of the heron

together we are one, our spirits bound by the
power of the stars