EVENING THINGS is featured in Durable Goods issue 28, published by Aleathia Drehmer, poet and publisher from Upstate NY.
I think a lot about the home we left behind in Guwahati, Assam. My parents moved from there, and with it a large chunk of our childhood and growing up years.
DG 28 is only in print. Read the poem below:
Evening Things
By Nabina Das
5 p.m. The trees invite blue china clouds
They forget the sun cannot light the lamp
5 p.m. You are drinking tea with honey
Inside a penumbra by the Radhachuda tree
You can wait, then bring the oil lamp out
Circumnavigate the non-existent tulaxi
The Namghar’s 5 p.m. silence will soon erupt
Its tranced kortaal dueting with the khol
5 p.m. You will know that time has struck
Gooseberry dreaming the shadow of a home.
NOTE: I realize there are some words in the poem that are not from the English language and hence need explaining. However, I don't like giving glossary.
Image from my photo album
Nor should you (give a glossary).
ReplyDeleteYou have a way with words. A power with them. A confidence in spinning the webs we want to get caught in. Thanks. I'll be coming back to dip into your wor(l)ds.
Jon M
Time has struck gooseberry...sweet sentimentality - loved it.
ReplyDeleteYeah - you have that way with words - transcend language - play with it -
Thank you Jon and Rhett!
ReplyDeleteJon, am so glad you perceive the wor(l)ds ... Your refelction certainly gives me power.
Rhett, playing is our job right? You know it too. A poet plays with language, sometimes strolls with and sprints too...!
"Rhett, playing is our job right? You know it too." If you think I know how to play with lang. Nabs that has to be the best compliment. Oh, am teary-eyed! :D
ReplyDeletethe durable goods...i am endeared. the Radhachuda tree shaded in a 5 pm silence from our past as seen from your windows. I loved this poem.
ReplyDelete