Uprooting the trees of sorrow from your courtyard, And planting them within my own, Look now, how they have bloomed With the beautiful flowers of happiness! Now, you tell me— Will you come to pluck these flowers away, Or will you bring some more trees of sorrow From your courtyard to give me as a gift...? Awaiting your answer....... Yours, Me — 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

Seeing me online until late into the night, Do not ever think that I am losing sleep As I drift away in thoughts of you. Going to bed without turning off my mobile data Has simply become a habit of mine now. When you call, does my number always show busy...? Well... remaining constantly occupied with work Has become my absolute duty now. Seeing me pass by the front of your house every single day, Do not assume that you should appear on your balcony. It is not to catch a glimpse of you, my dear— The road on the other side is blocked, And taking your street has just become a necessity now. Sundays mornings once used to belong entirely to you, But now, the mornings of every single day Belong solely to me. Writing poems centered around love and separation Has become quite outdated now. I heard that you read my poems on Facebook...? Why do you try to look for yourself Within every single verse...? Perhaps you do not know this yet— Thinking of anyone with the depth of intense love Has been strictly forbidden for me now. — 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

Just now, from inside the house, The winter has stepped out— From the body, from the mind, and from thoughts. The sleep suddenly broken By someone’s phone call Craves a warm, gentle touch. In the rich aroma of the teacup, The newly written schedule of the day Feels fresh and new. The messages on the mobile screen No longer bring much excitement. Yet, at the certainty of someone’s calling voice, The feet step forward… Though the laziness still refuses to break. "It’s been so many days since you came for a walk; Are you afraid of the winter... Or of your promises?" The dreams of the night, The half-written poems, And the warmth of the body Look so innocent nestled inside the blanket. But outside, The fog trapped in the veil of the saree (Panata), The dew resting on the palms, And the tender rays of the morning sun— Are all waiting. The hands no longer reach out For those romantic, enchanting poems Read until midnight. In the desperate hope of a restless, passionate embrace, The morning winter keeps gesturing with its hands From the other side of the window. — 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

With the monsoon as my witness, I have finally granted freedom now. Suppressing all grievances and silent hurts (Abhimana), I have untied the bonds of an age-old waiting. I will no longer ask the clouds The reason behind the delay of your arrival, Nor will my heart ever again Be intoxicated by the raw fragrance of the rain-drenched earth. If you can, spread open both Your butterfly wings. The entire vast sky is now open just for you; Fly around freely until you lose your way. Even if reluctantly, if sometime My courtyard happens to catch your eye from the sky, Come down just once to witness The austere life of this ascetic (Tapaswi)— How I pass my days Just to find the true destination of love. If you think That this is merely my false, prideful anger, Then come and take this oath from me: This is exactly how it will pass— My entirely solitary life. — 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

From the wet edge of her saree (Panata), A stream of maternal love was dripping. Yet, to put food into the mouth of her ailing child, The nectar-stream of her breasts had completely run dry. The portion of the thatched roof That had blown away during the Kala Baisakhi (summer storm) Could not be repaired or put back together; The promised relief and assistance from the administration Has not reached her to this day. The man who had left with a middleman (Dalal) In search of better earnings never returned. And the thirteen-year-old daughter, Who was called away to the village chief's (Sarpanch) house On the pretext of being given a plastic tarpaulin sheet— Has not come back home since. From within the mud walls that were collapsing in the rain, The exposed wooden rafters looked utterly helpless. Carrying a heart that had already shattered in the prime of her youth, She was wrapping her wet clothes tightly to cover her body. She was reminded of the childhood nursery rhyme: "The clouds rain down, pitter-patter, The water-chestnuts have sprouted, In which distant kingdom does my king reside? Go, play the drums of his arrival..." Nothing felt comforting to her here anymore. Streams of tears were rolling down her eyes, While outside, a torrent of rain kept pouring down. Amidst the roar of thunder and flashes of lightning, Vanishng into the deep darkness of the night Was the helpless, desperate cry of a virgin girl Who had just stepped out to…

O beautiful, moon-faced maiden with swift, restless eyes, Your speech is full of playful wit and flattering charms. Like a clever, artful woman with a whimsical, dancing heart, You walk ahead, counting the colorful patterns on your path. At the moment you gather the golden champa flowers, When your moon-like countenance beams with a radiant glow, The restless bumblebees, along with their entire swarming army, Are startled and scatter away in sudden fright. As your curly locks of hair gently kiss your soft chin, Your face, framed by beautifully arched eyebrows, looks like a perfect painting. Draped in finest garments of pure Chinese silk, Your entire form is gracefully anointed with fragrant sandalwood paste. The four-faced Creator, Lord Brahma, toiled across all the four cosmic eras To sit and meticulously sculpt your exquisite beauty. Being so deceptive, why do you come to ensnare This lifelong celibate youth into the web of your circular trap? — Ratnamaya Tripathy Adhyayana, Balangir Original Odia : Ratnamaya Tripathy Translated by : Dr. Khyatimaya Tripathy Ratnamaya Tripathy now presents a poem showcasing "Cha-Anuprasa" (Alliteration of the letter 'Cha' / ଚ-ଅନୁପ୍ରାସ). Every single word in this verse begins with the letter "Cha" (ଚ), pulling from highly sophisticated, classical Odia vocabulary to describe the mesmerizing, almost divine beauty of a woman and the sweet entrapment of her love. Want to read this poem in Odia ? Click Here Want to read this poem in Hindi ? Click Here

After causing the incident and leaving me deeply wounded, You have now come to mend the breach. With a sweat-drenched body, you are shaping an earthen pot, Disguising yourself as a humble potter. Throughout the entire monsoon season, instead of becoming close to me, You only maintained a distant, heavy pride. Harboring feelings of hatred and visiting repeatedly, You orchestrated a plot that brought ruin upon my home. Searching for your anklets (Ghungroo) on the steps of the bathing ghat, While suffering from the trauma of these open wounds today, Look at me—smearing camphor over my body, I am enduring fatal blows inside my own house. O woman with thick, dark hair! Holding a water pitcher in your hands, Come to me in the divine avatar of Goddess Ghatakali. Pouring the dense, soothing nectar of love over this battered body, Destroy all these agonizing pains and wounds. — Ratnamaya Tripathy Adhyayana, Balangir —————–Original Odia : Ratnamaya Tripathy Translated by : Dr. Khyatimaya Tripathy Continuing his astonishing sequence of classical alliterative compositions (Anuprasa), Ratnamaya Tripathy now presents a poem featuring "Gha-Anuprasa" (Alliteration of the letter 'Gha' / ଘ-ଅନୁପ୍ରାସ). Every single word in this piece begins with the letter "Gha" (ଘ), utilizing heavy, classical Odia vocabulary to portray a dramatic story of betrayal, pain, and a plea for healing. Want to read this poem in Odia ? Click Here Want to read this poem in Hindi ? Click Here

A floral wreath (Gajra) adorns your hair bun, and a marigold garland rests on your neck; Saffron-colored robes drape your body. A deep, sacred mark (Tilak) sits gracefully upon your cheeks, And your gait is full of solemn dignity. Singing in the exquisite style of the celestial Gandharvas, chant for me The glorious and sacred teachings of Lord Chaitanya (Gauranga). Bringing down the celestial waters from the heavens into the local stream, Recount the sacred legends of devotion to Mother Ganga. Yesterday, opening the window of my room, As I sat down to compose a lyrical song, The image of a heavenly nymph flashed across my mind, Moving with the majestic, slow gait of an elephant (Gajagamini). You are the precious, preserved treasure of our rural princely states; Your beauty is as fragrant as the earth itself. O moon-faced one, flowing pure like the sacred Gandaki river, What is this divine, mystic attire that you have fashioned? — Ratnamaya Tripathy Adhyayana, Balangir —————–Original Odia : Ratnamaya Tripathy Translated by : Dr. Khyatimaya Tripathy This is Ratnamaya Tripathy's another master piece. this time showcasing "Ga-Anuprasa" (Alliteration of the letter 'Ga' / ଗ-ଅନୁପ୍ରାସ). Every single word in this piece begins with the letter "Ga" (ଗ), weaving classical vocabulary to describe a divine, graceful woman adorned like a saintly devotee. Want to read this poem in Odia ? Click Here Want to read this poem in Hindi ? Click Here

Thinking you would escape after spreading the rumor, And fashioning a plaything of joy, You have spent a great deal of effort In dividing my heart and digging a pit for my fall. Becoming angry over a baseless news that is like a flower in the sky, You thought I would not notice your flaws. But even when driven mad like a wild spirit, I have never been impatient or cruel in forgiving you. If I am but a tiny firefly, you are the radiant sun itself! Ending all heartbreaks, spread your bright, unfolding laughter. O bird-eyed beauty, adorned in your sacred Khandua attire, Come to me now and take away all my grief. — Ratnamaya Tripathy Adhyayana, Balangir —————–Original Odia : Ratnamaya Tripathy Translated by : Dr. Khyatimaya Tripathy This Poem is another masterful showcase of classical stylistic composition of Ratnamaya Tripathy. This poem features "Kha-Anuprasa" (Alliteration of the letter 'Kha' / ଖ-ଅନୁପ୍ରାସ), where every single word begins with the letter "Kha" (ଖ). It utilizes rich, traditional Odia vocabulary to express a lover's playful plea and realization. Want to read this poem in Odia ? Click Here Want to read this poem in Hindi ? Click Here

Because I could not tell anyone, The stories of my fantasy world (Kalpaloka), All my imagined sins and flaws Now make my mind spin in contemplation. Under the spell of a sorcerer's magic and bodily illusions, Wandering through the beautiful, dense forest, Struck by the bow of the desired, beautiful woman, I burn away in the fires of passion. Blending infamy, bad logic, and ugly words Into the sweet fragrance of the white jasmine (Kunda) flower, You, the night-lotus (Kumudini) of the moonlit pond, Acted as a skillful enchantress. In the auspicious morning dew, You are the bud of the white water-lily (Kalhara). O flowing river (Kallolini), along the course of your surging waves, You came and brought me glorious fame. — Ratnamaya Tripathy Adhyayana, Balangir —————–Original Odia : Ratnamaya Tripathy Translated by : Dr. Khyatimaya Tripathy This specific poem by Ratnamaya Tripathy is a brilliant stylistic showcase of "Ka-Anuprasa" (Alliteration of the letter 'K' / କ-ଅନୁପ୍ରାସ). In traditional Odia poetry (like Upendra Bhanja's Baidehisa Bilasa), writing verses where every single word begins with the same letter is a highly revered classical feat. Want to read this poem in Odia ? Click Here Want to read this poem in Hindi ? Click Here