The Concrete Pillar Of The Pond

The heated bank of the pond in the hot day
The trees, plants bushes all the way
look so faded like sprinkled with warm water
Every pond has a wooden pillar in its centre
The green deposits depicting its old age
The other part of the village
Has only that ditch, ponds are none
Without any pillar as no rituals done
He died who was the owner and non-consecrated single
Before the sacred ceremony of establishing pillar, people mumble
He desired to get a pond when became rich
How can fame come through merely a ditch?
Look at our pond’s solid pillar
Concrete pillars become strong when they remain in water
It’s not a wooden one
Whose Life remains short


Original poem in Maithili by Gajendra Thakur
Translated into English by Jyoti Jha Chaudhary

Gajendra Thakur (b. 1971) is the editor of Maithili ejournal “Videha” that can be viewed at http://www.videha.co.in/ . His poem, story, novel, research articles, epic – all in Maithili language are lying scattered and is in print in single volume by the title “KurukShetram.” He can be reached at his email: ggajendra@airtelmail.in


Jyoti Jha Chaudhary, Date of Birth: December 30 1978,Place of Birth- Belhvar (Madhubani District), Education: Swami Vivekananda Middle School, Tisco Sakchi Girls High School, Mrs KMPM Inter College, IGNOU, ICWAI (COST ACCOUNTANCY); Residence- LONDON, UK;Husband- Sunit Chaudhary, Father- Sh. Shubhankar Jha, Jamshedpur; Mother- Smt. Sudha Jha- Shivipatti. Jyoti received editor's choice award from www.poetry.com and her poems were featured in front page of www.poetrysoup.com for some period.She learnt Mithila Painting under Ms. Shveta Jha, Basera Institute, Jamshedpur and Fine Arts from Toolika, Sakchi, Jamshedpur (India). Her Mithila Paintings have been displayed by Ealing Art Group at Ealing Broadway, London.