WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER VISITS SHILLONG
THE BAMBOOS WATCH IN SILENCE

When Prime Minister Gujral
planned a visit to the city
bamboos sprang up from pavements
like a welcoming committee.

But when he came, he was
only the strident sounds of sirens
like warnings in war-time bombings.

The bamboos watched in silence.

He came with twin objectives
a mission for peace and progress.
But he was a rumbling in the clouds
a prattle in the air.

And some say he came
homing in like a missile
and left flying like an arrow.

In between?

Some say he dropped
like a falling star
and was sighted by a few
disgruntled leaders.

He came like a threat
and scam-stained ministers
were in a cold sweat.
But he left like a defused bomb.

They wondered
what he could have seen
of the land
what of the people
he could have learnt
when he came
like the snapping of fingers.

They wondered
and sought answers
like little children.

Only the bamboos watched in silence
too used to the antics of men.

HABA U MYNTRI RANGBAH HA SHILLONG U WAN HIAR
KI SIEJ JAR JAR KI SHU IA PEIT SIAR

HABA U MYNTRI RANGBAH HA SHILLONG U WAN HIAR
KI SIEJ JAR JAR KI SHU IA PEIT SIAR

Haba u Myntri Rangbah, u Gujral
u thmu ban wan jngoh ia ka sor
ki siej ki khie im kynsan na surok
la kum ki nongpdiang sngewbha.

Hynrei ynda u la poi, u shu long
tang ki jinglynñiar jong ki sairen
la kum ki jingpynbna ia ka jingwan ka thma.

Ki siej jar jar ki shu ia ap bad peit siar.
U la wan bad ar synrop ki phang
ban wallam ka roi ka par, ka suk ka saiñ.
Hynrei u shu long tang u pyrthat rkhiang ha ki lyoh
ki khana lorni ha ka lyer.

Bad katto katne ki ia ong ba u wan
kumba wan her u nam ding
bad leit phai kumba suh wia u khnam.
Hapdeng ka jingleit bad jingwan?

Katto katne ki ia ong ba u wan poi
la kum u lur hap
bad la iohi tang da khyndiat
ki nongialam bapun da ka suhsat.

U la wan kum ka jingmaham
bad ki myntri bit scam
ki theh syep pjah slam.
Hynrei u la leit phai kum u bom b’la weng i’u bakhor.

Baroh ki ia lyngngoh
aiu keiñ un iohi
ia kane ka ri
aiu keiñ un tip
ia ki riewlum jong ngi
haba u shu wan tiap
la kum ba bsiat.

Baroh ki ia lyngngoh
bad ki ia wad ia ki jubab
la kum ba thlia ki khynnah.

Tang ki siej jar jar ki shu ia ap bad peit siar
ba la myllen ia ka tamasa ki riew thamula.