The Stone of the Leimatak River
Jodha Chandra Sanasam *
Tumbling down I came
crashing, dashing, bump-fondling
along gorges, between slopes, narrow and steep
around mountain podium and foothills
drowned in, carried down by a ravine stream
into this Leimatak River of my life.
I have remained fallen on the gravel
unable to reach the depth of my world Loktak
pushed aside from the current torrential
left high and dry alone on the shore
short of my destination, off my Loktak.
I cannot remember
what curse fell on me
of which siren mesmerising.
I have stopped yelling
as nobody heard my plea
my call for somebody to push me down
a few steps further that I failed
to reach my destination Loktak.
None implanted a heart's microchip in me
nor did somebody put either,
a stethoscope on my chest;
who will then listen to my heart beat
dried up by the heat ashore?
Water that quivered to the brim so beautiful
I have no further intent to reach there, though.
The Loktak of my dream
its surrounding is stinking now
its bottom becoming shallow
the phumdi weeds piling up on layers.
The water of my Loktak has turned red
its mal-odour stifling my breath
with the reek of fresh blood polluted
and of ichors-flummery decomposed.
One day they will come pick me
those quarry workers
for building the house yonder there
which they began to erect without foundation
a building ready to crumble down any day.
I intend not to be material
for such a house
to crumble down itself any day.
Pick me up
if you're going to place me
as a decoration motif piece
in that garden of my land
let it be in a corner I mind not;
let green moss grow over me
let tender Nunggarei creeper blossom on top of me
that is what I want it to happen.
Let me make friends
with those visitors to the garden for a while
let me watch a bit further
the panaroma of colour a while longer.
* Poem written by Prof Jodha Chandra Sanasam for Hueiyen Lanpao (English Edition)
This poem was webcasted on June 29, 2014.
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