Two Poems by Aparajita Purkayastha

The Eternal Epic

Trying to flip through

The pages of an epic

A never ending yet ever

Fading , an epic that has

Crudest of pains, cruellest of rains

Hazy fear finding its ways

Through the gush of blood

In the weakened veins.

I have donned the kohl

Of concealed despair

I have put on the cloak

Designed of silky dreams

Embroidered with the threads

Of unreal hope and despondency

My lips are coloured

With the bright radiant hue

Liners defining the idiosyncrasies.

I move on as the epic

Unfolds pages unseen

And paths untread, seemingly green

My foot falls on the tornado of sand

In the creepy desert land.

Yet, I move on as the epic

Uncovers, unfolds, unravels

The darkened nights, the rosy days

Fighting back the heart’s dismays…!

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The Cherished Chest

I opened a chest today

A chest, a treasure box , a myriad

Of moments, made of gold and grey

I opened a chest today

A treasure box of speaking eyes

And silent lips , broken hearts

and hazy dreams.

I never knew that I’d filled

The chest with memories innumerable

Often seemed minute , yet now so incredible

Necklaces of love, rings of happiness

Studs designed of selfless care

Bangles embossed out of trust and share.

I never knew that I’d filled

The chest with memories innumerable

Often seemed minute , yet now so incredible

Maa’s frowns, Baba’s roars

Could be felt in a crowd of crores

Maa doesn’t frown now, for she

Thinks I’m the best

Baba’s roars are within me,

For a lioness doesn’t bark

She roars in the light and in the dark…!

I have opened the chest today

It lives in my heart , night and day…!

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© Aparajita Purkayastha 

New Delhi, India 

aparajita.purkayastha@gmail.com

Born in the beautiful hilly state of Nagaland, Aparajita is an English teacher in one of the most prestigious institutions of New Delhi. She vents out her emotions through her poems and her genre centres round the sufferings , the harsh emotional toils and the urge for human empathy for a peaceful existence. Her words are simple, yet effective, lucid and heart bound. She believes that words are the best way to reach out to people in an effective, sensitive and sensible manner.