Even amidst your thousand denials, I have sensed a hundred thousand words of consent. Even through a mere blink of the eyes, it can be understood; Even from silent lips, the language of the heart Can be easily discerned. To speak the mind's inner truth, one does not need An isolated, lonely world. Even within a crowded space, one can experience A fresh, new definition of love. To comfort the heart, there is no need For the southern spring breeze, a beautiful orchard, A rainbow in the sky, a chilly wind, The flowing stream, or a bountiful abundance of flowers. Even amidst a chaotic clamor, love can be understood— All it takes to recognize a heart is a heart itself. By the chains of whose authority Are your feet bound within a restricted boundary (Lakshman Rekha)? Under whose strict and watchful discipline Are your eyes filled with a torrential downpour of July rains (Shravana)? Upon whose courtyard altar (Chaura) are you compelled To light the evening lamp? Here, a pair of eyes has been searching for ages For your footprints in the courtyard and The playful restlessness of your gaze. Some say the rain arrives Bringing with it the seasonal cycle of union. Yet here, burning in the agonizing fires of separation, Stands a lush green forest, Desperately searching for the touch of your soft hands— And the soothing coolness of love. — Ratnamaya Tripathy Adhyayana, Balangir Original Odia : Ratnamaya Tripathy Translated by : Dr. Khyatimaya Tripathy Want to…

Someone had told me To keep the window open all through the night. Whether it was a request or a command— Without understanding, I left the window wide open. During the first watch of the night, came the fragrance of jasmine; During the second watch, the bright, spotless moon. During the third watch, the voice of some unknown bird, And during the fourth watch, an unseasonal rain arrived— Drenching the window railings Along with the calendar on the table, The poetry diary, and the flower vase. Yet, the window remained completely open. In the morning, I asked, "Why did you tell me to keep the window open Last night...?" Smiling softly, she replied, "You silly (Buddhu)... You couldn't sleep last night, could you? You spent the entire night thinking only of me. That is exactly why I had told you To keep the window open..." — Ratnamaya Tripathy Adhyayana, Balangir Original Odia : Ratnamaya Tripathy Translated by : Dr. Khyatimaya Tripathy Want to read this poem in Odia ? Click Here Want to read this poem in Hindi ? Click Here

In her rain-drenched body, She was burning with a 104-degree fever, And in her schoolbag lay the silent omen That her education was about to come to an end. No one bothered to understand Why she came back home completely soaked. In that rain that had poured down So suddenly... How could she have found A single safe place Where she could shield herself and her schoolbag? The school veranda after closing hours, The roadside canteen, The betel shop, Ravi’s automobile garage, Or even the government waiting-hall With "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" (Save daughters, educate daughters) painted on its wall— None of them offered a truly safe roof for a young girl. How could she have stopped and waited there? She had seen the predatory eyes, Ranging from ages fifteen to seventy-five, Reaching and piercing right through her school uniform. From hands that took perverted pleasure in groping her Under the guise of giving blessings— How could she have begged for shelter? She had overheard the crude, half-whispered, And jarringly abusive words coming from the nearby tea stall. In an effort to keep her schoolbag dry, How could she allow her heart and soul to be utterly drenched in filth? Her friend once told her That if one learns to hide the truths of their heart, One can easily hide under anyone’s roof when it rains. But because she could not hide the truth of what she faced, Along with her schoolbag, a restrictive string Was tied to her legs…