Desert Rose

This flower caught my eye.
May be it was the fresh scent, may be it was the bold display of colours, it's radiance .. something.. it made me turn.
I couldn’t see it very well from far but couldn’t take my eyes of it. There was a strange force drawing me towards it.
I decided to step towards it.
As I went near, an amazing thing happened. It began to change!
In a moment it was a burning bush.
I blinked.
It was now a ferocious tiger. It’s eyes were ablaze!
I rubbed my eyes.
This time the transfiguration was into a dragon spewing fire.
Just as I was thinking of drawing my sword out, it changed again .. into the beautiful flower.

Mustering all the courage that I had, with a hand holding tightly on the sword, I went closer, initially at a slower pace and later faster.
It did not change.
I went closer and closer.
No change.
I was now almost at a touching distance.
I went closer.
It wasn't there anymore !
In front of me was a calm and peaceful sea, extending far and beyond, forever..

Ah ! a mirage !
In a flash I saw that all that I learnt through my travels was worthless - like a line drawn on water, I still couldn’t see through things.
Did I wish that I'd continued on my travel and not stopped ?


ps: if you came here accidentally while searching for Sting's Desert Rose, sorry. You can get the lyrics here -> Desert Rose