The Pristine Beauty Queen! Poem by Namita Rani Panda

You haunt me when awake or in dream
So bewildering, so bewitching
My evergreen queen!
My lovely Kandhamal,
to protect you from wintry chill
you blanket yourself with tall Saals and a foggy fur shawl!
In wintry nights you stroll out with your stole
adorned with stars that twinkle and enthral,
people like moths, for warmth, throng around the fire
A proof that at heart you're so warm and fair!
The humming of your gurgling rivers,
the song of the nocturnal creatures,
the whispering of the chilling breeze
are like the lullaby of mother Nature that soothe to ease!
In sunny Summer you're so panoramic
As if smeared and bathed with golden turmeric
With the aroma of sweet Mahua flowers
In the crisp clear air,
A soothing covert for the tired travellers!
In rain you look so grand
Like a village lass just out of the pond
Clad with a green saree clinging to your bosoms
That you set shyly to hide your beauty so awesome!
Every season you're adorned with varied lovely fruits and
flowers,
You nurture your children with utmost love and care!
Your enticing look is a grand feast for the eyes
Surely anyone can fall in love with you and can never say you
good bye!
But I know, you're hiding intense pain with a grin
when you're stripped of your skin so green
and striving hard to repair and maintain!
Grey curly roads pierce into your bosom like daggers
so that you can progress and prosper,
you're adorned with bright street lights
that steal the glaze of your stars once so bright!
For how long you can smile at their vile and ignorance?
For how long you can up keep your pristine beauty and
innocence?
You're really an unparalleled piece of real heaven
where I wish to live, die and be born again and again!