A Little Farther Away
written by: Jaya Abraham
My father once asked me
To mark a place in the earth
And plant a tree there
That was years ago,
In a season when everything
Still felt possible.
I chose a patch of soil
Just beside the verandah
Close enough that the evening breeze
Could carry the fragrance indoors
I imagined the house
Breathing in sweetness,
Every room steeped in blossom
When the tree came to flower.
He shook his head gently
And moved my hand farther away.
Not so near, he warned-
One day its branches will grow heavy
Break in a storm
And crash upon the tiles
Splintering the roof you hoped to shelter.
Much later,
Someone else spoke in the careful tone:
Do not come so close.
Stand back, keep your distance
If you linger too near
I might fall in love-
Everything I have built
Could come undone.
- A Little Farther Away - June 13, 2026
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- Deadwood - August 10, 2023
