Hill Top Rest House Poem by Saroj Padhi

Drenched in the scent of overhanging moist Mahula,
towering Eucalyptus, Teak and Sal trees
with the smell from wild creepers at her armpits
it is my fond loving bear of the night inside whose hugs
I listen to the crickets pouring out their soul
in shrill monsoon symphonies
as moths ponder deeply over the loss of peace
of the virgin woods;
their unsteady feet clambering dim electric bulbs
under continual drizzles—
before a few of them drop dead
to the gravels in the portico like withered petals

flowers look startled by occasional honks from four wheelers
scrambling up the nearby ghat under the night's blind siege-
their mechanical drones drowning the voice of the lean stream
that sulks down like a lost baby in search of home under a calming breeze;

the half moon descends to the distant watch tower
to walk under the weight of semi-dark nostalgic clouds
filled with dusts of aroma from trees' musky bower
as I stumble upon a dream on my bed before darkness enshrouds!