Magic of Assam

By Jitmanyu Baruah

Far out in the paddy fields,
Where the crops and trees lie,
Where the rhinos roam the land,
And the cranes fly by.
A place where magic meets nature at sunset,
When the sky is the colour of an oil slick,
When everything comes to life
With the tap of the magic stick.
The dancers pick up the japi,
The drummers play dhol and pepa.
Majestic water buffaloes bow their heads,
And take a drink at the Brahmaputra.
The foxtail orchids lay in the branches
Of a large tree,
The butterflies flutter energetically
Daring to be free.
Weavers weave the silkworm’s golden silk
And show off their skill
New cocoons shake and twist,
And open at their will.
The farmers go tea-picking
Talking together in the sun,
Happiness is unbound,
And here you get the fun.
The art is culturally rich,
With tales of wonder and ones which bewitch.
The cuckoo and nightingale
Work on a new melodic piece.
The deer run around freely
And the elephant trumpets loudly,
The tiger roams proudly,
And the forest is in peace.
The valleys and rolling hills
Spread out across the landscape.
The cascading waterfalls flow with glimmering water,
The river dolphins jump among the waves.
The robin tweets its tunes.
Where magic meets nature,
More marvelous it becomes.