Faith In Me Stands Vindicated

With Kaartika [1] setting in
The milky white buds of Agahani [2] paddy plants
Rich laden with dewdrops of the closing night…
The soft touch of the rising Sun’s beams
Will make them eloquent in beauty.
I’m on my stroll towards the bank of river Parmaan [3]
Moving on and on by the sides of paddy fields.
I’ve returned to my days of childhood
After decades, the morning Sun of autumn
Would accord me a reception!
And would shine for a few moments or so
On the drut-vilambit [4] waves of the river Parmaan.
And my unencumbered pair of feet
Shall indulge in fun and frolic across the sandy banks.

They will leave traces of shallow gray footprints
And I would begin to laugh within myself
As I would come down immediately into muddy wetland
The signs of heavy foots of animals already beckon me.
And my head would bow down in memories of milk-blessed buffalos…
Lo, somewhere after, in the midst of sheesham [5] trees
Has appeared the graceful Neelkantha [6].
Will it move away or rest nearby?
Just behind the twig of a young Pakar [7] tree?
Or on the aged Peepal [8] tree’s grotesque fringe
Or will it soar on and on,
Till it reaches the front-yard of a temple around Vishnupur [9]
Only to disappear in the midst of thick-leaved twigs of the Moilishree [10] tree
And rest there!

Leave them there! Come on Ratneshwar
And we will watch the morning Sun’s
Pleasant radiance in its perfect form
To our heart’s Content.
Since when I had missed
The sight of the glory of just-born Sun.
Don’t be in a hurry, my friend!
We are to return, I know
Where do we come across such a rare sight?
I often pass many mornings in sleep
I have nearly lost the soulful touch of countryside.
(Ah, me! Chronicler of countryside)
However, at least today, we will watch the sunrise to the full
And, for quite sometime, to our heart’s content
Besides we will watch the Ceremony of offering arghya [11] of flowing water
And chant, in unison, the verse of invocation
“O Sun God, the giver of light to the
Universe, I bow down to thee in reverence
I once again offer my prayer to thee god Savita [12]
O dear Ratneshwar, do not be impatient
We will return in a relaxed mood
Today the atheist in me stands floored.
A young postgraduate like you
Has been a witness to this deviation in a confirmed heretic
Nay? Do I lie?
Perhaps I may yet recant all this in future.
Where? I did never surrender myself.
Where? I did not offer arghya to the Sun God
If I recant, Ratneshwar, don’t
Contradict or refute but only maintain
an enigmatic smile on my professed lie.”

Notes:
1 A month of the Indian Calendar, rich with dew drops.
2 Paddy crop harvested in the month of Agahan, considered more tasteful.
3 A local rivulet of Purnea.
4 Fast and slow. Term of lexicon of music.
5 A kind of timber-wood full of thick leaves.
6 A beautiful bird supposed to bring good luck.
7 A huge tree with extended trunks.
8 A huge tree having religious significance.
9 Name of a village.
10 A tree with beautiful flowers.
11 Offering of water for holy purpose.
12 One name of Sun God.