By Pranay Phukan
Lullabies and prayers from our little chapel
Were the only songs I had heard from Ma.
At our leased home
She was usually silent.
A character in the backdrop.
I heard from my maternal uncle,
Before marriage
Ma was the lead choir girl of her village.
However, as far as I could remember,
I never heard any song from Ma.
Don’t know,
Maybe after sending us to school,
After washing the dishes, after folding the clothes,
She would sit by the loom,
Combing her long hairs,
Humming to herself.
The other day, when I opened her sewing chest,
I found countless clothes woven by her,
Embroidered pillowcases,
Table clothes, etc.
Like the strong scent of the naphthalene balls
I heard Ma’s unheard songs,
Ringing out of the box.
Did she lock her songs in her chest
After she sang them?