Imphal
- Deep from the Soul -
K. Padmakumar *
I love Imphal
I love the people of Imphal.
Late in the afternoon
When the horizon is yellowed by the ripening sun
Children playing by the roadside
That is a pleasure
I am never tired of seeing every day of my life.
The widow and her son
Who were separating chaff from the grain rhythmically
In the small courtyard
Of the cottage, old and damaged beyond repair,
The woebegone expression of the widower
I saw him walking along the footpath
With head not held high.
When I see them
With tales of woe writ large on their faces
I would love to live with them
Sharing joys and sorrows of daily life.
The Uripok road
I have been using it from my birth till today
And will be using it till my death.
One day as I walked along
On my way home in the evening I thought -
No work tomorrow, please
Sick and dog tired I am,
I have lost all interest in this living death,
I am exhausted, utterly exhausted.
A thought has just struck me then
With tears welling up in my eyes -
All the more, I will suffer
All the harder, I will work
All the more, I will make friends.
Let me lead a quiet life unnoticed,
Let me breathe my last unrecognized,
Here at Imphal among my friends.
A warm comfortable house, a responsible job,
And one treated with respect
My desire for these things is dead
in a few moments;
What I would love is to live with them
Making friends conscious that die we will
Sharing foodstuff conscious that die we will
Laughing away domestic chores
conscious that die we will.
I remember my friends
In my evening prayer
(This would be telling in my humility)
Yes, I remember them too
With love in life
And with love in death.
(Translated from my late father's Eigi Phamungda by K. Radhakumar)
* Poem written by K. Padmakumar which was published at Hueiyen Lanpao (English Edition)
This poem was webcasted on October 06 2012.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.