The Crying Call of Motherland
Manoj Pukhrambam *
Our Mother! Far away from you;
Crying and longing for you.
Brothers up against, all armed;
Daughters and Sisters being harmed.
Surrounded all corners, by enemies-
A purging field for them, it is.
Would you continue watching quietly?
Would you say they aren't your family?
How are you, oh Brothers and Sisters!
Since the day you parted during "Ava Laan"?
Our Mother cries soulfully in despair.
In memory of you all, her heart seeks repair.
The East-Gate shall open.
The West-Gate shall close.
The voice of Freedom is rising.
Many blood, shall we lose.
Do you tend to stay away forever?
Do you tend not to join the war?
Shall we be able to meet again?
Shall you not return to your homeland?
Note: This english version of this poem was first published in Issue 01 of "The Conclusion Magazine", a Bangladesh based international literary.
Refer link here
(Manipuri version of this poem was published in e-pao on April 27, 2016)
About the poem:
This poem describes the clarion call of a Motherland towards the sons and daughters staying outside the soil. In this poem, the Poet tries to elaborate how the nation is burning, with brothers and brothers holding arms, fighting against each other (Nation refers to the state Manipur here) whereas on the other side, the daughters, sisters, the mothers and wives are also becoming victims of violence and killing spree. The Poet also seeks to go back in History during the time of AVA LAAN – 'Ava' is an earlier name of Burma and 'Laan' is a Manipuri dialect which means war. 'Ava Laan' is referred to the war (particularly the 7 years devastation war) fought between Manipur and Burma wherein many lives were lost and thousands fled during the war.
About the Poet: The Poet has been writing poems since 2013 and has been publishing poems mostly in "e-pao.net". But it is recently in 2018 that he started submitting his poems for publication worldwide. The Poet is a multilingual poet and has written about 100 poems in English, Hindi and Manipuri altogether, and with some under the pen-name 'Pukhrambam Boboi'.
Most of his poems are filled with social and political sufferings depicting the hardships and attrocities faced by his countrymen, particularly the Northeastern communities. Sometimes, he does blend the hardships and emotions of life and the love for his family in his poems. The Poet is a School teacher by profession. He is based in Shillong and orginally belongs to Lanka (Hojai), Assam.
* Poem written by Manoj Pukhrambam for e-pao.net
The writer can be contacted at manoj(DOT)pukhrambam(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This poem was webcasted on 28 December 2018.
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