From my ashes

A poem by Achuthan Panikath

Mon Mar 30 2026

He rises, one foot atop the stones,
the family of stones that slipped him down,
Hoping to rise to the heights of being known
The family betrayed him happily to the town.
His left foot squashed the eel,
The beast who drowned him for long
In a sea of shadows for the feel
Of joy; of success among the throng.
He clutched the monster with his hand,
That tore his heart from being loved,
Envy blinding him to his folks of grand,
The green eyed monster choked and bowed.
His eyes burned with regret,
Fear cowering under some bone he was sure
Hidden, masked, Love feared to show herself
To the monster that lay slain within.
From his ashes he had risen,
Beaten yet proud, Gritty yet strong
The shattered man stood completed there
Patched up yet perfect, hurt but flawless.
Heel not to defeat, heel not to yourself,
Live to defeat and live for yourself.
Bow not to greed, and bow not to ash,
Rise from the greed and rise from the ash.