By Eshababiang R. Lyngkhoi
I’ve never seen those great peaks above our humble hills,
Nor wandered the vast plains where the westward wind stills;
My eyes have missed the snow, and the sun-kissed sandy shores,
Where sunlight dances on waves and where the ocean roars
To be lost in such splendour might calm my restless soul,
And in their eternal embrace, I’d find myself whole
To drift through Parisian cafés, where rich aromas fill the air,
And explore London’s winding streets, bookstores steeped in stories everywhere —
To lose myself in art galleries and museums, and find love in Amsterdam's gleam,
Cycling through Copenhagen’s crystal waters, where each canal mirrors a dream
Istanbul perhaps for my love of cats,
A summer somewhere in Italy and winter in Norway’s Northern lights;
These vivid dreams swirl as moonlight meets me at midnight,
Longing for these adventures of wanderlust in my heart solemnly resides
Ancient cathedrals of centuries old and grand,
Rest in a shelf in my room, where their history stands
The Greeks of old, with their myths and their lore,
Await a curious visitor to open their door —
These books have travelled far more than I ever will,
Shaking hands with greats and the ordinary thrill.
Yet, I find solace in what’s close to my heart,
In rivers like veins, where life's pulses start.
Valleys breathe with every heartbeat and every gaze;
While canyons and cliffs find their tranquil place
Shillong’s bustling streets and winding mud trails,
Where the road from east to west unveils serenity’s sails
The laughter of children in a sun-drenched park,
And evening’s soft glow, as daylight turns dark,
The walk home from class as the city streets light up with life
In this haven of mine, where joy and calm combine,
Where nature’s own rhythm feels so perfectly aligned.
In my hometown, a gentle breeze of nostalgia blows,
A box full of childhood knick knacks overflow,
Where cattle graze in sunlit fields and time seems slow;
Where waterfalls shimmer and verdant greens entwine,
Creating a peaceful haven where memories shine —
Folklore and rainstorms blend in a hidden, splendid dance,
With lightning streaks, thunder's roar, and nature’s wild romance;
This place, a sanctuary where those who gave me life are ever near,
Their love endures through storms and stillness, unwavering and clear
Though my travels may be only half the way,
The world’s full light in my corner does stay—
And I may have never wandered all over the globe but the entire globe I see in my humble abode.