Ketaki paints word-images of rural Bengal, celebrating summer, nature, music, and love, exclusively for Different Truths.
Walking along the winding village mud paths, Meandering along the paddy field banks. I see the red silk cotton blooms, Rich red like sindoor, on married women’s hair, the brilliant red in their shiny oiled buns, fleshy delights of the Summer God. Red joy of petals rained on my soul. Heart beating, I danced the primordial tribal roll, A blaze of emotions vibrated, celebrating life. Red velvet blooms splashed the cerulean sky. The hot breath of air, singed my lips, My cheeks blushed with heat. The primordial season of love and desire grew. When the helpless dark koels sang uncontrollably, parched with a want and a never satiated yearning, to be drenched in an outpouring of loving… The shimmer of creation cannot be contained. Thoughts and words of love, smoky hot, whispered vibrations in throats, the endearing kiss below the ear lobes, birthed love in the Universe… Tucked red blooms behind dainty ears… Flowing hair, dangling earrings, seed necklaces, Decorating the dusky skinned women. Around us is the shimmery haze of a blazing summer… steaming with passion. I cannot help, but merge with the aura, of the Supreme Sun’s mystical energy. In the composition of the flames of fire, of living and joy, I too burn. While the wandering Baul, the mendicant, sees all, sings arms raised, to the Divine, hair streaming, dancing with tiny steps, circling joyfully, Tiny bells tinkle on his ankles, seed necklaces jingle, accompanying the music of his one string banjo. He wanders, like my soul.
Picture design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths
Ketaki Mazumdar is an educationist and received the National Award for Excellence in Teaching from the then President, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. Passionate about poetry, her latest book of poems, “Woodsmoke and Embers” and she, are listed in the ‘Top 50 Most Influential Authors of 2021’, by Delhiwire. Her poems have immense depth, are evocative and deeply contemplative. A prolific writer, she contributes to several poetry sites and anthologies, both nationally and internationally.
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