This time we didn’t look at each other,
the evening and I
everything that needed to be done was done.
This time we didn’t follow one another
The night and I
We only caught a night bird’s tune.
This time we didn’t follow each other
The morning and I
We glistened in the brighter beams
This time we didn’t follow each other
The midday and I
I followed your words to foster my heart.
This time we didn’t follow each other
The afternoon and I
We didn’t care if a leaf laughed or cried.
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Gopal Lahiri
Picture Nick Victor
@gopallahiri
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Short Bio:
Gopal Lahiri is a bilingual poet, critic, editor, writer and translator with 31books published, including eight solo/jointly edited books. His poetry and prose are published across more than one hundred journals and anthologies globally His poems are translated in 18 languages and published in 16 countries. He has been nominated for Pushcart Prize for poetry in 2021. He has received Setu Excellence Award, Pittsburgh, US, in poetry in 2020. He has been conferred First Jayanta Mahapatra National Award on literature in 2024 for his significant contribution in Indian English Writing. His collection of poems ‘Alleys are Filled with Future Alphabets.’ has received Pan Asian Ukiyoto awards. First Prize Winner in Poetry Contest organised by 43rd World Congress of Poets in 2024.
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