By : Dr. Nunglekpam Premi Devi
I know not what I am up to;
As I remember and remember
I was helping her, my mother;
She was as good as she did;
She utters no words of tiredness;
No signs of worries and pains;
She is soft, soften at her heart;
She’s smooth by her skin;
She adores her long swaging hairs;
Her vibrant calmness, as she adores
Are her strength; I watch her all along
As I help her weaving loom, weaving phanek;
It makes no sense when I weave;
It means a lot, lot many senses when in use;
I know not what I am up to;
As I remember and remember
She’s thin and tall; my mother
Her snowy complexion is all that she wears;
She sleeps soundly, late after everyone sleeps
She gets up early, early before dawn
She speaks no language; she speaks no actions;
She’s quite as a golden leaf;
She sings her senses with the rhythm; that
Rhythmic rhythm of her tools tek-ta, tok-ta, tek-ta, tok-ta
She afraid no souls; she afraid no evils;
Her vibrant calmness, as she adores
Are her strength; I watch her all along
As I help her weaving loom, weaving phanek;
It makes no sense when I weave;
It means a lot, lot many senses when in use;
I know not what I am up to;
As I remember and remember; my mother
Her attic as I remember, full with cotton rolls;
She waves no help; as she rose every dawn
She’s good as I weave and she speaks louder;
She keeps spinning as I weave; spinning and spinning
She’s delighted, she’s happy along the rhythm;
As I sings my senses with the rhythm; that
Rhythmic rhythm of my tools tek –ta, tok-ta; tek-ta, tok-ta
She reclaims my weaving; weaving phanek
She adores me, phanek; as I weave
I afraid no beings, I afraid no spirits
Her calmness as I recollect is my strength;
Her softness is my attire;
This silhouette memoir of mine; as I weave
As I help her weaving loom, weaving phanek;
It makes no sense when I weave;
It means a lot, lot many senses when in use;
Dr. Nunglekpam Premi Devi is an Associate Research, School of Women’s Studies, Faculty Council of Interdisciplinary Studies, Law and Management Jadavpur University, Kolkata