In The Silence Of The Night Poem by RAJ NANDY

IN THE SILENCE OF THE
NIGHT
With the setting of a hard day's sun,
the day was finally done!
As darkness slowly engulfed the Santal
village,
Huddled across the bamboo thicket by
the sleepy river's bend;
There rose the crescent moon!
Little lamps in the hutments lit-up one
by one,
Like fireflies flickering in the twilight
gloom!
The melodious sound of a distant flute,
Along with the muffled beats of Santal
drums,
Floated across in the intoxicating breeze
of Mahua brew* !
And when the night grew dark and deep,
And all village was fast asleep;
Intermittent shrieks of jackals could
be heard,
From the sleepy river's bend out of sight,
Piercing into the silence of the night!

-Raj Nandy
New Delhi
25 Apr 08
( *Intoxicating brew is made from the
Mahua flowers by the Santal tribes
in India)