Holi (A Festival Of Colour) Poem by Chhote Lal Khatri

Holi (A Festival of Colours)
Holi hai bhai Holi hai! 1
Don't take it amiss; it's Holi!
Seven colours of water
Seven colours of powder
Seven colours of abuses in songs.
Flying slowly, slowly Navaras ki ey Holi! 2
In-house Holi, out-house Holi!
Fever of Phagun 3 running high in Chait 4
Players flinging slush and mud
Smearing faces, tearing veils
Dragging one another in the drainage.
Don't take it a miss; it's Holi.
Everyone is drenched in colour
Drunk in bhang 5 and thandai.6
She looks sali7 or bhabhi; 8
He looks jeeja 9 or devar 10
Running after one another.
Don't take it amiss; it's Holi!
Children are squirting colour water
On the passers-by.
Applaud on each shot.
It's a game where everyone is the same:
Neither winner nor loser; its leveller.
From dawn to dusk you are player.
Everything is fair; it's Holi!
Songs of Holi sung in chorus
To the high pitch tune of cymbals and drum.
Delicacies and drinks, feast of malpua11
You are welcome without invitation.
It's evening, time to touch the feet.
All's well that ends well; it's Holi!
Drunk day's hangover clings on bright night,
Your fingers feel the warmth of her flesh
And wish to linger with it,
To chase for the heck of a chase.
You pay the price or fancy her in your wife.
In love, war and Holi nothing is unholy.
Holi hai bhai Holi hai!
Don't take it amiss; it's Holi!
1. Holi hai bhai Holi hai: It's Holi, brother, its Holi.2. NavaraskieyHoli: Holiofninerasas(emotions)3. & 4. Phagun & Chait: Hindi months of spring5. Bhang: Hemp/narcoticdrinkmadeofhemp.
6. Thandai: Adrinkmadeofmilk, dryfruits, sugar 7 & 8. Sali & bhabhi: Sister-in-law
9 & 10. Jeeja & devar: Brother-in-law 11. Malpua: A sweet dish
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