I had never seen a garden quite like this,
Never had I seen so many flowers and bumblebees.
Youth hiding behind the trees,
Old age resting on the cement platforms,
The future playing on the grass carpets,
And on the walking trail—
Time engaged in an effort to heal a few weary, unkempt bodies.
The water from the fountain
Was sculpting rainbows in the morning sun.
The dewdrops on the grass created the illusion of pearls,
But the flowers blooming upon the benches
Were no illusion; they felt beautifully alive and fresh.
Leaving behind all the exhaustion of the night
Tucked inside her blanket,
She was gathering the morning warmth into her winter clothes.
The color on her lips had not yet faded,
The kohl had not yet left her eyes.
Adjusting her slipping veil with care,
She was resetting her anklets.
Her footsteps slowed down,
Her eyes filled with a shy grace.
Just as she straightened her sweat-drenched body,
Tired from walking and walking…
The whistle of the pressure cooker broke the dream.
From the kitchen, a voice called out:
“Aren’t you going for your walk today?
It’s already getting late…”
— Ratnamaya Tripathy
Adhyayana, Balangir
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Original Odia : Ratnamaya Tripathy
Translated by : Dr. Khyatimaya Tripathy
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