The Escape!

“Hello stranger, can you hear?
I am tired, and thirsty, and my vision is unclear.
I need your help; please reach  out.
I am stuck; please get me out!”

“Don’t frown! You know me quite well—
I am the “genie in the bottle”; illusion have cast a spell.
I dance to your tune; I obey your command.
And when you want me quiet, you switch me off; with a stroke of a wand.”

“Hello stranger, can you hear me scream?
I am tired of this dance; please set me free—
I see bright lights: dazzling through the stained-glass bottle.
And the colorful school of fish swimming by; making it wobble.”

“How can I escape? Please, is there someone to help?
I am tired and thirsty; please hear me, don’t turn a deaf.
I feel the ups and downs, as the bottle meanders through the wave.
Oh, I want to feel the warm water; and swim my way.”

A  sudden smashing sound, the glass bottle shatters—
A gush of warm water; and the stranger says, “Swim faster!”
She tries to stay afloat and fight her best,
As the waves overpowered her; she reached out for the person who had saved.
A voice within herself mocked, and said, “poor genie, it is too late!
The stranger saved you once, but can’t save you again,
It is up to you to decide the path to be taken.”
Genie nodded and tried her best; kept on swimming and forgot all about the rest.

Her eyes opened; she could feel the balmy sand—
Cool, nice breeze caressing her hands.
She is alive!  she is free!
 In a distance, she could see the stranger standing near a tree.
“Thank you, stranger! Please let me see your face.”
The stranger turned; she brightens up, it is her inner self.