The Yaoshang Smell
Prof Jodha Chandra Sanasam *
When my cousin Ibelei
wore her stole exposing her top cut low
during the Yaoshang Festival
I knew why all the young men lingered
near her for a word to her.
It was only one or two of them
who could dare to smear Abeer
on her cheek or forehead,
and her temple or armpit;
she knew how to safeguard herself
away from unruly stooges, bad guys.
After she got married
to one of the guys of that Yaoshang season
it didn't impress me anymore;
she wore heavy gold and jewelllery,
no more of her attractive stole
and low cut top;
I felt pity for the guy
who took to scuffles
with our local hero Ta'a Bihari,
only to win my cousin Ibelei.
When I fell in love with my Mempishak
her stole or her top didn't bother me much,
my interest focused on her full lips
and her mole that stood out faint
on that spot
neither on her chin nor on her cheek
somewhere below the left corner of her lips.
It mesmerised me all the time
when I imagined
how her mole would react
when I would kiss her lips succulent
which I desired to so much.
Last Yaoshang
when my niece spent hours
to dress up with her T-shirt and crotch-drop trousers
I knew
she was going out with her boyfiend.
I wanted to advise her
not to worry about her garments;
but rather to concentrate on her skin in future
and for the day on decking her lips
allthough I knew the melieu was no longer healthy
after all, I thought, it was Yaoshang season.
* Poem written by Prof Jodha Chandra Sanasam for Hueiyen Lanpao (English Edition)
This poem was webcasted on March 14 2014.
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