20 Long Years Poem by Stephen Styris

(Third Prize winning poem in the Inter-College Youth Fest-2008 at GU)
[Theme: My Land, My Time]

20 long years has gone,
Since the day I was born,
In the twilight hours,
Of a wonderful morn,
Guided by the rare smile
Of the fading Uncle Full Moon;
The great Venus smiled,
The fresh morning breeze played,
And quickly painted my first smile
All over my innocent wet face…!
Sweet & pleasing a time it was!
A rare one of its kind!
As I’ve known today,
From what my Granny had to say!

20 long years has passed by,
That I’ve been swinging to a lullaby,
That’s so sweet, that’s so pure
The tune of my Mother –
The tune of the Nature –
Who’s so sweet, so dear,
So close, so near…
I played on her honeyed breasts,
I learned to dream
I learned to face,
I learned to learn
And I learned & learned;
And I learned & learned…

I learned & learned
For 20 short years,
That collapsed so quickly
Like the fading white Lily…
Indeed a rare of a kind
A time it was,
As I’ve realized today;
Not just from what my Granny had to say,
But from the present scenario
Ruling all over & over my dear Land –
The burning cold ice
Bringing a change to that old Time –
The bitter tears & painful cries
Kicking & piercing my ears & eyes…

20 long years – that sweet period of time,
Is now nothing for me, but just a sweet memory –
A precious memory …
Which is my love, which made my life,
Along with which I’ve grown, alone without which I’ll die…
********
Stephen Styris,
Bongaigaon College,
Dolaigaon, Bongaigaon,