I was Alive till Yesterday
We built a house Falling in love with life. It was a small house To accommodate From two to three And from three to four We four lived like birds in the house With love and affection. We bought the essentials from the market Wants kept constant company And happiness came as a guest. We burnt like lanterns To illuminate the house And served our children Meals of happiness. I donot remember since when I have worn this garment of sorrows And the river of life Has changed bends. This life has taught me to fight Some withering dreams Cannot waste away life. As night becomes darker I feel as if I am walking through a dense forest I could not guess earlier That sleepless nights could be so terrible. When I am all alone I open the old casket Where I have carefully stored memory. I pass time this way. My dear kith and kin I donot blame you For not sharing love with me. I was alive till yesterday Today I am in a circle of void I have welcomed death And none except me knows That I am dead. My children are also unaware of it. Time ! You may ask me of the pain Of breathing after death.
Towards Light
" There is shadow in the sun In darkness depend on yourself. " --Mother We are creatures Woken up by sunshine. The fire under the rice pot Is a source of our happiness And so is a roof that does not leak. The bulging bag that father carries After shopping is our dream. Mother says, " Give up the uneven path Practice flying spreading your wings." Those days were golden When we sailed paper boats On channels of rain water Flowing down the roof. Learning the alphabet Was a journey to light Water sundered this life And yet there is love for water A river has been for ever flowing through the heart. Unlettered mother spoke the truth She said things long ago The words still abide.
[Translated by Ananda Bormudoi]
Tripti Das is an Assamese poet and author based in Tinsukia, Assam. Her poems, short stories and essays have been published in leading Assamese magazines. She has one collection of poems to her credit. She can be reached at : tripti02.tsk@gmail.com