THIS OLD FLOOR
–By-
Tariq Ansaar Aquil
Open the door to the room. It's empty! Does it surprise you that there is nothing there? Is it better or worse because of its lack of furnishings? Because of the bareness of its walls, its floor? Does its hard wood floor beckon you or does it repulse you for all its oldness, its reminiscence of times long past, its un-usualness with modern textures and constructions?
Are you angry because you were there when it was danced upon as a grand floor, run upon by children chasing themselves?
Look how that old floor stands alone, not even the food that once spilled from your hands has left a stain look closer there is not a trace of the foot prints that the feet of a dozen or more made as they sought the comfort of the rooms that criss-crossed and connected this grand floor.
There is dust in the corners of the room; dust that gives a thin-coated luster to the floor, yet the floor stands alone, as if the dust were a badge of its valor and not a detractor from its grandness. And yet for all of its oldness, this floor is strong and safe.
As you stand upon it there is a feeling of security radiating up through the beams that form its interconnecting planks and a sense of pride comes from knowing that years from this time this floor will stand, strong dignified and securing to those that grace it.
No one may ever raise a flag to the memory of this old floor, nor would it be beyond reasoning that this floor would go unsung for all its pleasures and delights, but for you, perhaps this floor will hold the memories of a life time, memories that are so entwined with this grand floor that its place is engraved in the annals of time.
For your mind is the bearer of those things of which eternity is made And this support, this platform, this upholder of you and all that was good and true in those times that have fled into corners covered with dust also; this floor will always be all that and more for those who knew it well!