Quiet were his steps
Invisible almost
Colour to paper
is all he desired
Gasped with joy
when he found
sketches, crayons, paints
laid out in invitation
beckoning him
to flare his imagination
Silently he began
every waking hour
A palace he imagined
Bringing it alive
hue by hue
Not a word he spoke
all of day one
disappearing
in breaks
to his still world
filled with colour
Day two we noticed
when meals he missed
consumed as he was
by his art
Feverish in his endeavour
adding layers of depth
to his thriving imagination
He brought it to life
colour by colour
blacks, reds and blues
in stressed richness
adding dimensions
in mysterious ways
Not a word he spoke
amongst forty others
A craftsman he was
still in his art
As colours emerged
so did he
We saw the shift
certain and real
from flirtive eyes
to steadfast gaze
from fidgety hands
to firm strokes
from drooped shoulders
to arched back
from established frowns
to almost smiles
As his art came alive
He came alive
Feverish in his pace
He slept little
as day three dawned
He knew
his time had come
Quietly he walked
Still, he gazed
as forty pairs
watched
with bated breath
'Art I love
day and night
yet, colours
not have I
at home or school
Colours I see
colours I seek
all around me
even in the drab
of my spaces
To heaven
you brought me
and let me be
You saw me
even as I am
hidden from me
Accept my frailties
with grace you did
and here I am
with grace
I say
Thank You'
and with that
he unfurled
a fantasy palace
brought alive
from deep
in his being
befriended with colours
that danced on paper
under his able command
In that moment,
his eyes shone bright
having found their light
from within his heart
steadfast and sure
they made home
to shine bright
for ever more
Never ever
to be shut again
A journey
just begun
for in art
Dilip (the king)
had found
himself
only himself
truly himself
Note: This is the story of 14-year old Dilip who attended a 4-day outdoor experiential camp by Dream a Dream and where he discovered his inner strength through art
Invisible almost
Colour to paper
is all he desired
Gasped with joy
when he found
sketches, crayons, paints
laid out in invitation
beckoning him
to flare his imagination
Silently he began
every waking hour
A palace he imagined
Bringing it alive
hue by hue
Not a word he spoke
all of day one
disappearing
in breaks
to his still world
filled with colour
Day two we noticed
when meals he missed
consumed as he was
by his art
Feverish in his endeavour
adding layers of depth
to his thriving imagination
He brought it to life
colour by colour
blacks, reds and blues
in stressed richness
adding dimensions
in mysterious ways
Not a word he spoke
amongst forty others
A craftsman he was
still in his art
As colours emerged
so did he
We saw the shift
certain and real
from flirtive eyes
to steadfast gaze
from fidgety hands
to firm strokes
from drooped shoulders
to arched back
from established frowns
to almost smiles
As his art came alive
He came alive
Feverish in his pace
He slept little
as day three dawned
He knew
his time had come
Quietly he walked
Still, he gazed
as forty pairs
watched
with bated breath
'Art I love
day and night
yet, colours
not have I
at home or school
Colours I see
colours I seek
all around me
even in the drab
of my spaces
To heaven
you brought me
and let me be
You saw me
even as I am
hidden from me
Accept my frailties
with grace you did
and here I am
with grace
I say
Thank You'
and with that
he unfurled
a fantasy palace
brought alive
from deep
in his being
befriended with colours
that danced on paper
under his able command
In that moment,
his eyes shone bright
having found their light
from within his heart
steadfast and sure
they made home
to shine bright
for ever more
Never ever
to be shut again
A journey
just begun
for in art
Dilip (the king)
had found
himself
only himself
truly himself
Note: This is the story of 14-year old Dilip who attended a 4-day outdoor experiential camp by Dream a Dream and where he discovered his inner strength through art
