“Ḍārjīliṅa pahāḍaharū tapā’īnlā’ī kala gardai”… (Darjeeling hills calling you)
The delicate voice broke a little into molten strands of lapis lazuli
As the road to Darjeeling beckoned me…
A traveller with a soul, a traveller tottering along the edges of her tawny life.
Roads in meandering motion accompanied by Teesta on all their sides.
Roads that celebrate the carousing of the Verdant Flycatcher
Roads that enliven mysteries of the distant land and multicoloured rhododendrons basking in the glimpse of the fading October sun.
The Teesta flowed on, flowed till the water-drained rocks inside its labyrinth were flung to the other side of the road,
The Teesta flowed along with the wailing of the half-naked hillside beggar waiting with a parched tongue, for alms.
Teesta muskurā’um̐dai, Teesta smiled at the wafting smell of raisin-studded handmade cakes from the local bakery, as two little children stood fidgeting with a moisture-laden binocular on the steep craggy side of the mountain.
Teesta flowed on. It flowed into eternity, or into nothingness, the traveller smelled a whiff of the herbal concoctions sold by the hillside vagrant dweller…
Potions, liquids, gelatinous substances in blue, white, musk-melon and orange colour
That promised Jīvanakō elixir, the paradisal potion of life…
As the half-eaten, butterfly-roused wild poinsettia petals jingled with the rhythmic nagging and weeping of Tapasi Murmu, the tea garden worker
Embracing her last vanity with a soiled salwar-kameez that promised her hopes through the holes…
The Teesta flowed on …dribbling across white limestone rocks, drifting into thin spasms of life that still enlivened the hills…choosing, variegating, negotiating…the kaal, the Mahakaal.
Poet: Sreetanwi Chakraborty
Sreetanwi is an Assistant Professor – at Amity Institute of English Studies and Research, Kolkata. Earlier she was teaching at Salesian college, Sonada. This poem is a reflection from her times here in our hills.
Amazing mam
Very vivid, I could truly envision it!
Beautiful poem ma’am .
Very nice as well as impressive. Although a technical person, I do admire it.
Really amazing. Got a view of Darjeeling through the poem.
Ma’am it’s really beautiful, from the vivid imageries to the subtle references to socio-economic relevance of Darjeeling, to the ever-presence of the Teesta (like Mahakaal) who as if witnessed everything from time immemorial.
Very Beautifully written!!
So beautiful ma’am! ?
Beautifully written in the most comfortable manner possible. Will definitely visit Darjeeling someday. ❤️
Dear Sreetawni,
Quite an engaging piece on the Teesta. Your expressions in the poem can easily allure one to make a short trip to Darjeeling.
Good, Keep it up.
Dr.Amrita Dey
Department Of Political Science
Amity University
Kolkata
Very nicely written.Keep it up ma’am.Best wishes.
very well written. I loved the part how you beautified nature. Keep writing ❤❤
A Good Poem in true of terms. Vivid writing style and a beautiful usage of techniques in the creation.
Very nice and amazing poem. Through your eyes, we can easily recognize the queen of the hills in different dimension. Thanks again for sharing such post.
Wow.. the poem is very touching ma’am.. I have never been to Darjeeling and yet I could visualise the place through your words.. Excellent work ma’am..
Beautiful ma’am.. thanks for sharing..