Somniator

Yellow shower of Azadirachta and a gentle breeze Welcome me into springtide, Sweet summer aroma of its flowers Trigger memories of childhood Spent in dusty streets chasing butterflies. Summer resonated the vibrations of steel and china, The savouring of fresh lemonade and squishy mangoes, The vibrant petunias and pansies in my garden  Daring me to seek the flycatchers While I relished collecting dews from leaflets. Spectacular evenings were devoted to  Watching the scarlet sun disappear  Behind the magnificent mountains From the podium of my sacrosanct balcony, And admiring the lush greenery Coming alive from the fervent rain, While some delightful yet poignant melodies  Played on a harmonium in the background. 1000 miles away from home, Amidst skyscrapers and trapped cars on the road, Summer is a rush of hot wind Exhaled on my face, Choking my hardened tan of skin.  Sweaty palms, sweaty soles  And...

I flow untamed, undeterred,  My silver waves scattered with parijat  And ashes of the dead.  A man comes exploring  The secrets in my depth,  He worships me  When I quench his desolated fields  And curses me  When I uproot civilisation on my way.   I am ancient, raising Majuli  And culture of the indigenous,  I have witnessed the battle of Saraighat,  I have drowned histories and many a heroic soul  And now I endure the torments   As they try to choke me   With grease and plastic and rubble  And poison the children harboured in my bosom.  Yet, I flow, tarred and determined.   As the setting scarlet sun casts an iridescent glow   On the horizon;  A lone kingfisher flies above me,  A host of sparrows return home   To the cliffs of the venerable temple,  A hapless lad rows his sorrows  Thr...