Poetryzine magazine presents the selected poems by the Indian (Assamese) poet Guna Moran
Insight
For some reason
you are upset with me
for a couple of days
Although I don’t know the reason
I guess it right
You haven’t spelled it out
I too haven’t asked you
We have taken opposite positions
Silence is chatting between us
Maybe the conversation is called
the battle of nerves
Bloodless
without arms
this is the most difficult battle
On earth, it is the best person
who wins this battle again and again
It is the one who ends this silent battle
is ever defeated
You want to be the winner
Me too don’t want to be the loser
So the distance between us is widening
* * * * * *
(Original Assamese poem titled “Antardarshan”)
First Lesson
Sitting hunched at the hearth
of useful knowledge
she toasted her ashen eyes
through the gaps of her fingers
and very often said
You are my unique achievements
of my sacrifice
for long ten months and ten days
By birth you’ve got a beautiful earth
besides the vast sky
So you must be generous like the sun
and tolerant like the earth
At my birth I cried
Maybe I got the pains of my mother
Since then I have had tears in my eyes
in happiness and sorrow of people
One can’t help crying
whose only companion at birth was tears
That honeyed word ‘Maa’
was my first honeyed word
Since then I’ve blurted out ‘Maa’
unawares
whenever I sit down or stand up
My birth is my mother’s sacrifice
I must be made for sacrifice
An ingrate I can’t be
My happiness lies in my mother’s happiness
My sorrow lies in my mother’s sorrow
Never can I be happy
He is the lone custodian of happiness
whose main assets are
the sun and the earth
* * * * * *
(Original Assamese poem titled “Adipath”)
Affection for You
It was gleaming
with the gaze
Affection is dumb
Affection is deaf
Like a speaker it did not speak about
the matter
like a listener it did not listen to
Till the moment of parting
it kept waiting in the eyes
In the thick green
of the desolate woods
A tune is ringing faintly
Gazing at the eyes
I want to see
Is it still alive
Oh dear
No way, no way
Cleaving the heart
comes out
a curious sigh
In the teary gaze
is it still alive
* * * * * *
(Original Assamese poem titled “Anurag tomar babe”)
Chitralekha
Having painted on both eyes
suddenly vanished
Chitralekha the enchantress
She planted
in heart
the garden of Babylon
It is swaying
in heart
heavenly flowers are blooming
Everyday we hear
melodious calls of painted birds
You are the gardener
of the hanging garden
I know you won’t come back again
Yet amidst the clouds
will be shining
the radiant smile of the sun
* * * * * *
(Original Assamese poem titled “Chitralekha”)
Note: Chitralekha was the boon companion of Usha, the daughter of the King Baan of the Sonitpur kingdom in Assam (India) of the Mahabharata era. Chitralekha had magical skills at painting and portraiture in particular.
Mayodia
O Mayodia heaven of bliss
Standing on the high snowy peak
I’ll stretch out my hands towards
the white clouds of the sky and whoop
Oh Firmament
Let me blend into your horizon
Making lunar balls I will cuddle them close
Carefree I’ll dance thrilled by the feel of snow
In the grand court of whiteness sorrow will sit by
Deep in my heart love will ripen
Taking a dip in the icy stream on impulse
I’ll drink in the beauty of the Mayodia sky
With the sun moon and stars I will play
The smiling stars will take me around
The moon will flirt with me in her lap
The sun will keep the day mild with warm kisses
* * * * *
Note: Mayodia, which means, Shrine of Mother Goddess, is known for its scenic beauty. It is located in Arunachal Pradesh, with an elevation of 2,655 m, above sea level
A dozen of years
Time came
time went by
I couldn’t keep time
tied up
I bumped into my old buddy
I got in my way the marine gem
In our chat I found him
no longer the same guy
It made me sad
Against the stream
we pushed out the canoe
each taking a bagful of our past
I felt a sharp prick of
an unknown sorrow
I was at a loss
He who was to go left
with a heavy heart
I too didn’t wait
The house stayed unbuilt
the shirt unused
Teeth came off
Oh dear
A dozen of years has rolled by
* * * * *
Translated to English by Nirendra Nath Thakuria
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