NEELGAIS AT SANJAYVAN BY ACHINGLIU KAMEI

 NEELGAIS AT SANJAYVAN

Preserved, dark blue beauties,

Under the amaltas’ blooms,

Shy, calm, graceful

As they feed, tender leaves quiver.

Delicate sensory, 

At the slightest footfall,

Its nose perks up,

Squaring up to look. 

Head suddenly motionless,

The beard truly true-blue.

A different breed 

Entered the scene. Favoured one.

Bells clanging. Fair skin

Slow, beady-eyed 

Seva to it till death,

The all-curing urine.

Flows out merging with the sacred river.

The shy Neelgais pushed out,

Their shadows sinking away,

Unable to withstand the strategies.

When all animals are not equal,

Some drowned in the din.

Roamed free in Sanjay van,

Merged with the wind, their forlorn spirits.

About The Author

A short story writer, poet, and an ultra-runner, Achingliu Kamei teaches Literature in the English Department of ARSD College, D.U. She loves to pen down her day-to-day life in the form of Haiku. Some of her poems and haiku are published in anthologies and journals like ‘Caravan’, ‘The Looking Glass Anthology’, ‘Insulatus’ and in ‘International journal Setu’, ‘The Little Journal’, ‘Melbourne culture corner’, ‘Poetry pea journal of Haiku and Senryu’, ‘Imphal Free Press’, ‘Borderless Journal’ and other places. She believes that poetry can heal. Her keen interest in literature and art keeps her engaged in writing, despite her busy schedule as a teacher. She is currently working on her next book of folktales - ‘Morning Blush’ and a collection of poems - ‘Flower of Remembrance’. She is currently residing in Delhi, India, with her husband, two daughters, and Haru, the cat.