Teesta Review: A Journal of Poetry, Volume 3, Number 2. November 2020. ISSN: 2581-7094
Shiuli
The tree grew once at the corner of the
premise,
Beside the mandap,
Behind the tulsi platform.
Shiuli—the dearest daughter of autumn,
A host makes a carpet for Time.
Children once played beneath the tree,
Mothers plucked flowers to wreath
garlands.
Winter afternoons under it bore many
unfurled wools.
Star-like flowers in moonlit nights
Became love poems.
Years of knowledge have made its bark
hark and dark.
Someone was laid at its foot,
Before the final journey.
Wools were furled.
Now, again children play beneath it,
Faces down—mobiles in hands.
Woolen designs are learned online.
Winter afternoons under the tree are
public.
Hands wither away the fallen flowers
from the display.
Autumn is captive in memories.