Jumping out of bed
at the first cawing of
the iridescent black jungle crow,
sneaking out of the house
to trample on the frost covered grass—
outhouse across the courtyard
its frosty white thatched roof
slowly changing colour,
languidly dripping water
when nimble fingers of
the mellow sun gently caressed it —
the magic of winter never failed
to fill my young mind
with awe and inspiration.
Jungle crows have vanished now.
So too have the thatched roofs.
Steel and concrete buildings
have come in to stay.
Winter still pays us a visit
but frost has disappeared.
Smog has replaced fog.
Memories of the winters of yesteryear
bring back names long forgotten.
Faded faces come alive
to play before my eyes.
Tayenjam Bijoykumar Singh is a bilingual poet, writer and translator from Imphal, India. He writes poetry, short-stories and nonfiction in both English and Manipuri. His original writings and translations in English have appeared in Oxford University Press Volumes, Sabd, Pratibha India, Interstate Commerce Commission Quarterly, Chandrabhaga, Imphal Free Press, North-East Frontier, Sentinel / Melange, Katha Volumes, Glimpses from the North-East (published by National Knowledge Commission), Marg etc.He is the Vice–president of, North East Writers” Forum, a life member, of Naharol Sahitya Premee Samiti, Imphal, and an advisor, Chorus Repertory Theatre, Imphal founded by Ratan Thiyam.
