In a reflective piece published by The Tribune, student Ananya Minhas explores the disorienting experience of a dream where progress feels impossible. The poem, titled 'Path not found,' captures the sensation of being trapped in a loop, with every step forward leading nowhere.
The Dream Sequence
The poem opens with the line, 'No reason, no architecture—only pictures played before my eyes.' Minhas describes a landscape of fading images and no real faces, while her eyes remain tightly closed. The confusion is palpable as she writes, 'The description of a dream unfolded, and confusion screamed in silence.'
The Endless Loop
Minhes conveys a sense of futility: 'Every step kept moving, yet I went nowhere—caught in an endless loop.' She sees a door that opens only to reveal another wall inside. The fear is overwhelming, with 'eyes full of fear writing their own story.' She calls out, 'Oh mighty lord! the only option left with steps and heart is the only thing running.'
Alone and Stuck
The poet compares her state to 'the condition of tardigrades in wide space'—alone, stuck, and far from the destination despite being near the aim. The confusion is described as 'real,' and the poem builds to a climax with the sound of an alarm: 'Beep... Beep... The alarm rang.'
Awakening
Upon waking, Minhas's eyes remain 'clouded with confusion,' and her heart continues to race. She consoles herself that it was 'just a dream,' but the path remains unfound. The poem ends with the haunting repetition, 'Path not found!'
Ananya Minhas is a student at Bharti Vidyapeeth Public Senior Secondary School in Baijnath. Her work offers a glimpse into the inner turmoil of a young mind grappling with uncertainty.
