The agony of a city dweller, travelling in the spatial world and the voyage within are the concerns of Mamta in this evocative poem.

Cyclical nature of festivals

Entwined with vacation

Lead homewards

Bursting with sashaying emotions

Of Travel, waiting rooms and related horror stories                  

The initial disappointment of disappeared landmarks

Dug up roads and ugly facades

Quickly forgotten

The comforting sight and smells of familiar neighbourhood

Of weathered threshold

Moist eyes and warm embraces

Careless talk and unlimited laughter

Gifts in stylish bags

Suitcases spilling over with unworn clothes

Plug points stuffed with mobile-chargers                                           

Refrigerators groaning with leftovers

Selfies storing away memories

Switching off from the cumbersome outside world

Tremors of departure loom over short revelry

The long journey of inward silence

Makeshift places replace home

For another annual exile.

Picture design Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Mamta Joshi

Mamta Joshi did her post graduation in History from University of Allahabad. She writes short stories, reflective essays, prose pieces on everyday life in national dailies and international e-magazines. She writes with equal ease in Hindi. For over two decades, as a teacher of English in college section at SMC, Allahabad, she has been interacting with young minds, understanding their pulse and in turn being savvy on technology, fitness, fashion, humour and rumour too.