Yogesh Gyabak Tamang
Yesterday evening
Terribly drenched were tealeaves with snow,
today also the day is cloudy;
hiding in floating clouds,
I can see the hills afar.
Early in the morning,
darkness surrounds,
the mother’s forehead,
Yawning but worried,
about her days work, she utters :
‘Aaja bijog hunay bhio’
envisioning an equally wretched day.
Nature’s law is unpredictable;
The day is unfavorable
for mothers who are dressed,
to work for such low wages,
But compelled.
If they were a volcano,
the sparkling tea garden,
with lush green leaves,
forming blankets
upon the beautiful hills
would have shouted out loud,
building pressure inside their heart,
manufacturing bombs of lava;
with flowing and blazing fire
they would have burst out loud.
Quiet are they
Dumb and numb
Innocent as they are
‘The Gurkhas.’
[Yogesh Gyabak Tamang is a poet from Darjeeling.]