In a rustic church the bell tolled
And the pastor said,
‘You are now man and wife.’
They kissed and their lips met
With sweet promptings of a heart red,
They hugged and their eyes met,
And so the rustic crowd cheered.

The frosted window and the hazy world outside,
I can see the flakes falling beside,
The stiff branches are blurred endings
That shall feed twigs new- after the fall.
And the fiery glow of a cozy hearth,
The redness of glow, the warmth of home,
And the company of this woman
Who is my best friend- look at her!
Devoted she feeds the fire,
There’s the star in her eyes,
Her lovely body in her attire.
And the chores she does smiling,
And he hugs me thus smiling,
And we live happy- ever after!

The winter passed and the pane cleared,
And the springtime world dear!
The pointed pine touches the heights,
The bare branches not so bare.
And beside the hearth
The little bundle of joy-
She cries, she frets, she punches in the air;
Mama dear is busy with chores,
No papa near.
Where’s he gone? The owner of the hearth
When his family plunges in mirth?
So far the mother goes, the baby in arm,
‘There lives he, beyond horizon,
There’s your papa dear.’
-20/11/2000, Calcutta-63