An ode to “Darjeeling”: Queen of the Eastern Himalayas

When the HR department in my new organization asked me to contribute something about myself in the organization's HR newsletter, I could not think of a better topic than my hometown Darjeeling. 

No matter where I go, I carry a bit of Darjeeling in me. My childhood years of growing-up in the hills are some of the most precious memories for me. 

Since there was already a short poem on Darjeeling in this blog, I worked on a few more stanzas and completed the poem. The newer version of the poem spans different seasons of the year, and various times of the day in Darjeeling.

The poem is a tapestry of my childhood memories. 

So here it goes... 

 An ode to “Darjeeling”: Queen of the Eastern Himalayas 

 My heart, stuck by a pin on your mountain-scape; 

 My mind, drifts on the wings of your mist. 

 My eyes, scan the stretch of your rolling hills; 

 My skin, with your frosty touch is kissed! 

 You, like a feisty bride in early spring, 

 white magnolias perched on you like a crown. 

 The gentle warmth of the sunshine are your sparkles, 

 And red-red-rhododendrons adorn your green gown. 

 You, a symphony of motion in the monsoon, 

 The pit-pattering of the rains-a metronome. 

 With melody embellished by your gushing brooks, 

 As a sarangi rends the air with a song. 

 You fill the warmth of your love in autumn, 

 like a matron to whom many children come, 

 A million voices fill your lanes and your waysides, 

 with laughter, mirth, and joy they bring along. 

 In winter you are well aged in your beauty, 

 as your hoary head are white mountains that charm, 

 ‘Though your water hurts us with a freezing touch, 

the gathering round the fire keeps us warm. 

 You, my fresh air in the morning, 

 my joy in the day’s sunny light. 

 My beauty, in your evening tangerine sky, 

 and my be-jeweled wonder at night. 

 These memories deep down I carry, 

 like an embedded precious amulet stone. 

 For you are my only Darjeeling, 

 the Queen of the Hills, my home!

I would also like to share some AI generated painting related to the poem in Japanese, Mithila and Tibetan styles to complement the poem!!!