top of page

Of Friends & Strangers, Verse

a couplet about identity

View of Arabian Sea, pre-monsoon skies, 2016 (c) Nandita Godbole.

"दोस्तिओंकि आज मै चिता जलाकर आइ हूँ बिछडेहुए लोगों का - मातम मनाकर आइ हूँ अपने अरमानों'की अस्थिओंको दरियामें बहकर आइ हूँ मै आज अपनेही घर से पराई होकर आइ हूँ| कितनेही अपनोंको पराया बनते देखा है. कितनेही आँसूओंको अंगारा बनते देखा है. आवाज देने गएथे जिनको, उनके पैरोंके निशान मिटाकर आइ हूँ, मै आज अपनेही घर से पराई होकर आइ हूँ|"

(c) Nandita, 2013

Translation:

"I cremated some friendships today,

mourned the ones I lost,

scattered the ashes of my wishes in the ocean,

and returned as a stranger from (what was once) my own house.

I saw loved ones become strangers

and tears turn to embers,

I wiped away the footprints of those I had gone to seek -

and returned as a stranger from (what was once) my own house."

(c) Nandita, 2013

AUTHOR

NG_BW 2020_rawai.jpg

Nandita Godbole
Once: botanist & landscape architect.
Now: personal chef, author, an artist, graphic designer, blogger, poet & potter!
Always: dreamer.


Loves fresh brewed chai, the crisp salty ocean breeze, watching monsoon rains & walking barefoot through cold mountain streams. 
 
Believes in the strength, positivity of the human spirit. Is spiritual but not a fanatic. 
 
Mom of one. Two, if she counts her husband.

bottom of page