FAITH, NATURE & INSPIRATIONAL

THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE

THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE

[Memories of an Indian countryside scene, haunting the urban migrant]


The silent waters of the lake,
Waves and ripples of flowing breeze;
The sound of the distant cuckoo,
As birds are chirping without cease;

Red fire ball of the setting sun,
Casting its shadow in the lake,
Going home beyond the mountains
For night, in the morning to wake;

The cows returning from the fields,
Neck bells shaking ding-dong, ding-dong;
The calves at their mothers’ udder,
As behind them they trail along;

The womenfolk in bright colours,
With earthen pitchers on the head,
Coming back from the village well,
As, by their side, their children tread;

The sound of conches in temples,
Farmers returning with their ploughs,
Their folk songs gliding in the air,
Full of monsoon scent, hard which blows;

Such is the beauty of the days
Left behind in the countryside
By me as I said goodbye to
My village, pulled by urban tide.


* Written in abcb 8-8-8-8 format

M C Gupa

10 June 2005