Community, For Lies Poem by Homen Thangjam

News of my education abroad
Made my community happy
Made my parents sad.

News of my sister’s wedding
Made my community happy
Made my parents sad.

Came in turns, congratulated us merrily
Asked about the costs, saw interests
In mother’s nanappi or the land we possess.

Father spent sleepless nights.
Fed his pair of bullocks to the brim
Patting them for the last time.

Mother ran around for charity.
Wore her phige phanek and nanappi
One last time in front of the mirror.

Each month I received lies as news from father
He praised the community, stood by them
Even when we’re ostracized for indebtedness
Said family was alright even when
Our land was mortgaged to cover my expenses.

News of my success
Made my parents happy
Made my community frown.

Community received me with a grand feast
Shared merrily how together they helped us
Now they call us their own.

I know today I’d surely lie to my son someday
To make him strong and feel protected
Lie to him to love my community for belongingness.