Evocative sketches in word-images, of Manipur, by Gopal, exclusively for Different Truths.

1.

Moirang, INA and victory flag post —
before you go further away,
dotted around are the grass rings,
boats lie awake on the Loktak lake.

2.

Flesh shines on the fishing net
waterbirds’ tweet to the last syllable,
the day tumbles down against the bleak sky,
the mist becomes central in Sandra hillock.

3.

Time slips away from us in Kangla Fort
moments drifts into unnerving thoughts
of war in the erstwhile Asiatic Kingdom
lies and facts are abundant.

4.

Evening light still spilling nectar
on the jewelled land of Manipur,
the apology breaks over,
mother’s hands, warmth and Ima market —
all glories turn into history and heritage.

5.

my eyes gaze across the hill slope
the trees grow from the earth
forest floats, the ever-shy Sangai deer strolls.

6.

Gobindji temple shines in Raas Leela
congregation hall fills with prayers
our existence blurs in the quietude.
what if all this is not visible?

Photo from the Internet

Feture Piture : en.wikipedia.org

Gopal Lahiri

Gopal Lahiri, a prolific bilingual poet, critic, editor, writer, and translator, has 32 published books, including eight solo/jointly edited volumes. His poetry and prose grace over 150 global journals and anthologies, with translations into 18 languages across 17 countries. Nominated for the 2021 Pushcart Prize and 2025 Best of the Net, he earned the 2020 Setu Excellence Award and 2024 First Jayanta Mahapatra National Award. His work features in the Penguin Book of Poems on Indian Cities.