They Alone are Friends…

In a river that is slowly drying up,

Becoming a tributary

And wishing to keep it forever flowing;

To a loosening, weakening grip of the hand,

Extending their own hand

To make that hold even stronger;

Covering up every falsehood,

And providing the immense courage

To look the absolute truth in the eye;

Piercing through the hard rocky floor to rise above,

Becoming both the anchoring root and the nourishing fertilizer…

All such noble souls… are indeed true friends.

— Ratnamaya Tripathy

Adhyayana, Balangir

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Original Odia : Ratnamaya Tripathy

Translated by : Dr. Khyatimaya Tripathy