You Still Remain

By Anushka Dey

I see you in the morning, and in the afternoon 

I see you in  the evening and in glow of  full moon 

In  yellow of morning sun and cheerful buttercups 

In Marie biscuits drowning in heart of tea cups 

In sweet crispy malpuwas and sugar palm fritters 

In delightful episodes of never ending bickers 

In spoonful of sweet curd right before appearing exams 

In ghost stories under  flickering light of kerosene lamps 

In red bordered turmeric yellow saree with golden lace 

In  carrying that lazy drape with effortless grace 

In old world aroma of boroline in winters 

In licking last drop of plum pickle from fingers 

In tracing rice flour footprints of goddess of wealth 

In whole hearted prayers for family’s good health 

In  reverent hymns sang with ardent devotion 

In blowing of conch shells and ululation 

In recycling old calendar pages to cover books 

In placing dry neem leaves in each and every nook

In heavenly fragrance of incense stick and sandalwood 

In feeding the stray cats and birds of neighborhood  

In rewatching Mahabharata for the nth time 

In tangy lemonades and sherbets of summertime 

In each sweet and lovely  memory of my childhood 

In each stroke of brush painting my adulthood 

By Anushka Dey