Where the sun melts through pine

leaves.

BY Dr. Pavel Barman

15-09-2010 18:20:40

The dewdrops cascading down undulating slopes

Become sole witnesses of the eternal struggle

Of the dawn sun trying to break free

From the clutches of the morning mist

And as the balmy rays finally ooze through the mist

A dark dreamy world gets transformed to glorious reality.

The world breaks up into kaleidoscopic colours

As the sun removes the last vestiges of the ground frost

The church bells toll and try to keep pace

With the cacophony of waking children

The surrounding hills get etched crystal clear

And the valley buzzes with myriad human activity.

The diminutive khasi men with their spades

Sculpts the world into numerous terraces

Old khasi lyrics provide them company

An ancient grin escape from their tobacco stained lips

As they behold the looming clouds-

The custodian of their self- contended life.

It rains, it pours then it drizzles

Then play hide and seek with elusive sunshine

The earth terraces are filled to the brim

Khasi women in their traditional attire

Round up their toddlers in front of soothing log-fires

Regaling them with archaic, rainy, dreamy tales.

The khasi children return from their schools

And make merry over dried fish and smoked beef stew

The untiring khasi men with their rice beer

Talk about the crops, the weather and the days to come.

The women incessantly chewing their areca-nuts.

Glow with tender smiles for their loved ones.

Eloquent eyes uncorrupted by human caprice,

Easy going steps unhastened by cut-throat completion,

Welcoming smiles brewed at the depths of the heart,

Complimented by expanses of thousand hues of green

Ah! Let me go once more to my Oriental Scotland-

Where the sun melts through pine leaves…