Imagination

Riddle of the Sphinx

Prologue

What walks on four legs in the morning,

two legs at noon,

and three in the evening?

A human being does.

On all fours as a baby,

two from kid to adult,

and three as a cane paired with an elderly.

From breaking dawn,

to the arrival of nightfall,

the being keeps walking

above it all.

It simply changes its posture,

as time goes by,

venturing along life

under the ever-changing sky.

Morning

The ball of light rises

as she leaves the darkness

of her mother's stomach.

Soft rays caress her face as she wails,

announcing her arrival to the world.

Beet-red cheeks, slightly heated

from gasping for oxygen,

matches the temperature outside the window,

that signals the start of a new day,

a new life.

Warmth—

is what the sun brings

to the smooth white tiles

inside the antiseptic-filled rooms.

Without it,

there is nothing.

Only four white walls,

silence,

and coldness exist.

But then the baby arrives,

and breaks this.

Just like spring,

like the sun rising from the East,

it symbolizes

the beginning.

Afternoon

What used to be long days and sleepless nights

no longer exist.

For the sun is now peeking out

from behind the mountaintop.

Slowly, it rises

higher and higher

until its peak height—

just like the baby.

She grows,

standing tall, no longer crawling.

No longer babbling, no longer bawling.

From four limbs to two,

she gets ready for school.

Kindergarten, primary,

secondary to university.

Achievements, punishments,

all contribute to her development.

The gentle warmth

was no longer the only thing

that existed inside of her.

Instead, there was heat,

hotter than the blazing sun—

as if she was a different person

fueled with burning passion.

She went around,

craving and learning

the many things she encounters.

From the simplest "What is (an) apple?"

To

the whole book of Dante's Inferno;

or her first time leaving home

and the feeling of being alone,

she never ceases.

The flame persists, never diminishes,

and only burns brighter

from day till night.

Evening

Originally high up,

like the flame constantly sparkling,

the sun sets

and the fire starts sizzling.

Greyish-white smoke curls up

in the air,

matching the shade

of the old woman's hair.

She was once so young

and carefree,

chasing after knowledge and lifelong experiences.

Not anymore,

or at least no longer running.

For she is now hobbling,

with two legs and a cane.

She has a loving husband

and an even sweeter dog,

and together, they would take

serene, evening walks.

They are always headed

in the direction of the sunset.

Hand in hand slowly,

confidently, with certainty

they move forward.

Knowing that it is almost the end,

they still make sure to treasure

what they have,

before the sun rises

in the other half of the Earth.

Epilogue

The warm, comforting ball of light

casts itself onto the land,

leaving everyone with tired but contended smiles.

And then it shifts—

and becomes an ignited, scorching flame,

that leaves a brazen path

wherever it goes.

It could keep powering,

keep the trail blazing,

but oh, it is far too rare of a thing

to be true.

As all living beings

have their own book to write.

While the start is ever enthralling,

there will always be an ending.

It is the circle of life after all—

beings appear,

and beings fall.

Hence, remaining fair above it all,

where the sun rises and where it sets,

all creatures enjoy their life

as good as it gets.