The river Baitarani
full to the brim
in the midst of rainy season
ferry-crossing takes me to school
myself, a 10th class student
forty-four years ago
class monitor, duty bound to attend
ignoring the flood warning
downpour started in the afternoon
as the school bell rang at the close of day
we rushed to ferry-ghat
only to find that ferry-services stopped
as the river is in spate
turbulent water flowing with roar
we returned back to school
no power, darkness everywhere
dinner served at midnight with lantern light
night passed with thinking of parents
when shall I be back to home?
Next day morning
river visible from the top of school
flood recedes: we all rush to ferry-ghat
squatting inside the boat with heads down
as per the boatman's instruction
what a risky journey to cross the river!
in the midst of river
boat swept far away the ferry-ghat
but for the divine skill of boatman
we reached the other side
safe and sound
as I was walking half a mile
found my father cycling towards me
overjoyed with my arrival
he took me in his cycle
my mother was crying last night
love of parents is unimaginable...
I was so happy to see my parents
today, my parents no more
but their fathomless love
till now sparkles in my mind.
What a marvelous diary of bygone events Sir! You ferry us over not only the river Baitarani.but also the sands of childhood moments. Thank you for the sharing of the poem.10 for it.
Wow, Thanks for sharing your experience. A whole community can be changed in the blink of an eye. We see a 30 second report on the evening news, but we can really never understand what it's like to feel the wraith of Mother Nature.
Thank you...this is the experience of a school boy(me) narrated after 44 years..
Sweet and sour memories which never fades and it keeps knocking at the hearts door of it's existence. Beautifully written poem 10+++ for sharing it with us all those encapsuled memories.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Thank you for taking us down memory lane. The ending is esp. unforgettable and touching.
thank you Sumali for your kind appraisal.......