The Other Side

There is hardly any approach road to the other side. The tall palm trees, at a distance, give some hope of companionship. The faint steps of passersby lead to the thinly populated tribal village. The gentle aroma is in the air.

I find myself in a different world when I manage to reach over there. Free hand drawn paintings, on the dwarf mud-wall, speak with sublime kindness.

Out of gesture, someone rushes to bring a basketful of seasonal fruits for me. I enjoy the opportunity of mixing my smiles with their innocence under the great banyan tree. The sun sparkles through thick foliage sprinkling sheer happiness.

I return with feeling of warmth to store memories in my flat inside the crowded multistory tower.

evening breeze—
a bird is slowly flying
nest-ward

Pravat Kumar Padhy holds a Masters Degree and a Ph.D in Applied Geology from ISM-Dhanbad, India. His haiku and tanka have appeared in a variety of international publications and competitions.