The Village in Moonlight

                                      

        

                              

                  

 

                 1.           Before the sunset the hamlet

                 Withdraws from buzzing activities;

                 The birds nestled in cool, dense trees;

                 The village became calm as a rivulet;

                 The bustle of beating wings westward

                 The sound of crickets from the sward.

 

                 2.         The wavy breeze doth gently play

                Peace spread over all, no noisy sounds;

                Under the tree, the elders gather around

                To talk of crops, cattle and rainy days; 

                The smoke of cigars and cheroot uprose

                Through star-studded darkness in repose.

 

              3.           The song of boatman shoots through silence

              The sound of drums and cymbals heard

              In distant hut, a ritual proffered

             To some folk-deity with sweet incense;

             A drunken husband’s shout steals through

            The thickening night as dense as glue. 

 

          4.           Under the thatched roof is heard

          The tinkle of bells and sighs too slow

          From resting cattle in the faint dim glow

          Of fireflies beside the bleating herd;

          The hay- fresh smell doth makes them swoon

          Under the soothing light of the moon.

 

      5.              This pollution-free freshness soothes my mind

        Touched by soft motherly breeze so kind;

        I closed my eyes and merged with night

        In deepest slumber in cool moonlight;

       Even the belated gull’s cry moved me not;

       The village slept in moonlight, a heavenly spot.

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   4th February, 2024           Somaseshu Gutala