The Ugly Duckling!

I was the ugly duckling you don't know.

I built my own shelter inside my shell.
I schemed it with hopes and dreams.
But never had I knew that the shell has to be broken,
Never had I tried.

At times I heard someone knocking at my shell.
Knock knock.
But I didn't mind open.
I kept on looking at my illuminated dreams and hopes.
I feared the collapse of them with the shell opening.
I sharpened my ears and listened to the voices outside.
I heard someone laughing at me , someone sympathising, yet another sobbing.
None minded to break my shell.
I was comfortable and cozy inside , I slept tight.
But they said I lacked something.
What was it? I didn't know.

Day by day the hopes and dreams increased.
I should find space to occupy some more.
At times I bullied myself.
And made my shell more strong.
I longed to see the world outside,
But something prevented me
and the shell was still closed.
They called me ugly, coward, and many more names, my shell world was unaware of.
What if they do the same once I'm out?

I looked at the mirror like it was the first time.
Who is she? How come she is this pretty?
I ran my hands against my fragile skin.
I found it pretending to be something else.
I scanned my body and smiled.
To be one and pretending another.
The shell had to be broken,
Shattered and scattered into pieces.
No prince charming would have done it for me.
I had to broke it myself.

Once and for all I punched my shell.
There it laid shattered and scattered into pieces.
All my hopes and dreams tumbled down,
Easy enough for me to pick them.
I stepped on the new world with pride.
I spoke out and stood for myself and my dreams.
The new world is a better place,
damn the shell life.
No longer I'm an ugly duckling, I'm going to be the whizzkid.
I longed for the days and places I missed out, the people I missed to see.
I walked ahead to make it out , to feed my long lost hunger for the outside world.
Now I'm the pretty duckling who destroyed her ugly plume herself!
New world, embrace me!
Here I come , to your heart, the pretty duckling!

A.C

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