Evenings I still cherish

Evenings I still cherish
P K Routray

Since a kid up to a grown up boy

many scenes, most often I recollect this day

The evenings during those days

with its memories and feelings still in me blaze.

“As the sun goes beyond the riverside horizon

fades from within the foliage and leaves its illumination

as if over the light, the darkness has thrust upon its victory

driving the light away from each nook and corner within its territory.

The village belles hurry up their evening chores in the river

where they usually go in groups engrossed with endless chatter.

With riverside air they recreate and rejuvenate their drooping spirit

return back before the dark to bow before a basil tree with a wick, they light.

The cattle return in a herd with playful mood from their grazing field.

After a pang of separation the joys of reunion of calves with their mothers run wild

After a daylong sweating labor the farmers return from their lands

with their pair of buffalos ahead, holding spade and stick in hand

exhausting the sweats from the brow over the hard day’s toil

carrying their dreams of the season’s golden harvest on the soil.

The chirpings of birds diminish as they start vanishing from the scene

hide they in the branches, holes in the trees with their kith and kin

With the howling of jackals in chorus from the cremation ground

ghastly is the feeling aggravated by many  such horrendous sound.

The absence of electricity and the limitation of kerosene light

add to the scene and sound to worsen the children’s plight.

The tales of ghosts and ghouls, kings and demons with lion and tiger

Though enthuse a child but with such environ it usually trembles with fear.

The cozy warmth of grandma’s lap provided then the place of safety

Though she was old emaciated but her command instills in a child her superiority.”