They can walk up to what we can’t
dream of, with their heads loaded
with firewood and a faith in god.
Sometimes they relax on the top of
the hills, their bodies carrying
the beauty of their skin.
The dusty roads rarely see a vehicle.
The women keep looking at us
as far as they can see.
Their love is strong as the wind,
soft as a breeze, their skin
shining in ancient heat.
I have seen their walk;
I have seen them dance
to a rhythm that is as soft
as their faces, the music
following their steps
with a passion I never knew.
Their men dance too, but they
wait for their women with a calmness
that belongs only to themselves.
Women of the hills:
I love you more than any one else,
I love to see you work for hours on end.
I shall never forget you.
Do you love me the way I do you?
Will you remember me after I’m gone?
Bibhu Padhi has published fourteen books of poetry, most recently Principles of Sleep, 2021
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