Morning In Tezpur Poem by Daniel Trevelyn Joseph

Went out to see the silently
Flowing Brahmaputra
At Tezpur, but view hidden
Partly by a familiar copper-pod
Tree by with yellow blooms
Of flowers still in October.

Staying in the Circuit House,
On the northern bank of the River,
I see another tall tree hosting
Two mynahs and two pigeons,
Welcome sight, and ubiquitous
In most cities.

The Cole Part is also thrusting itself
Into my view: I remember the IAS guy
One Mr Bhanu, whom the town loves,
Who had worked as Deputy commissioner,
And renovated this tank by the River,
And also set up Tezpur Environmental Society
As a Non-Government Organization to help,
Though he was a Government official.

The bearer came first thing inthe morning
To tell me that I cant go today, have to change
My programme because AASU has called
For a bandh in entire Assam. He was sounding
Quite happy about it: I had read only a small
Item in the papers, Deputy Commissioner
Had not warned me and so I ignored it.
The driver who was to take me to Shillong
Was initially worried, but bucked up,
When Mr Saikia the local officer spoke to him
In the local language, strengthening him.

We moved to La Barthia, saw the sculptures
Perhaps of the Gupta period,4th Century BC
Graceful stone women, with pretty figures,
And beautiful faces to match, of course small
In size in a big ancient framework of a temple.

We then rushed the local officer back
To his office, and speeded up on
The excellent road to Shillong,
Two hundred and seventy kms away.