I Am An Adibasi Poem by Shamik Kumar Bose

I run o'er the hill
With pile of woods o'er my head
The only company I find a bird's shrill
A flower's fragrance, a rock bed.

The Trees are floating with colors so bright
Rays of Sun make me salty sweat
I still have a junction in sight
To sale my woods for my family's fate.

My hut with mud is made
Roof cover'd with dry leaves
Amidst the frenzy of the Sals' shade
My garden cover'd with wild daffodils.

The Sun's lights like a miser's wrinkle
Inside I get all along the day
When the moon shines and the stars twinkle
My pot filled with mohua, I sing with gay.

I sing with a chorus
That are loud and wild
The drums beat with sound joyous
With feets of dance, livid.

The winds rustle
The falls with a girlish laughter
The moon sparkles
On the floating river.

I know not what is Modern, for sure
I live like my father and grand father
With a jocund company which is called Nature
And I am happy with my moorish skin and an income meagre.


I know not what is a jealousy
That fills a man's heart with pain
I know not what is a hypocricy
That a modern man hides in vain.


I am obscure
I am hidden, distasteful, wild
I only find a place
With a photographer's delight.

I lost the place in your Earth
That you have made like a Heaven!
I live with a merry and girth
With hills, mountains and wild raven.


Mohua - An intoxicating drink made with Mohua fruits. Try it! !
Sal - A tall tree in tropical climate
Adibasi - a tribal

Copyright: Shamik Bose 2009