LINES WRITTEN TO MOTHERS WHO DISAGREE WITH THEIR SONS’ CHOICES OF WOMEN (poem) - Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih - India

KI KYNTIEN SHA KI KMIE KI BYMHUN IA
KA JINGJIED SAMLA JONG KI KHUN

Ba nga nud ban ieit
ia kaba ki ñiewbeiñ
ha u ryndang ki pyndeng
d’u pieng syntiew ka byrsit ka byrngem.

Bad ka pyrthei ka pjah ha kane ka tlang bah
kum ka matrimonial column ka pjah
kaba ki lekshor ha ki shkor
ba nga la surdam hi tdam;
ne kum ki matsuh kiba bud
ia ka samla ba nga la mut.

Hynrei ki cherry ki sawkyrang
bad ki phuhmat kum ka jingieit baklang.

Ieh ia ki cherry ha ka tlang, Mei bathiang,
ia ka jingieit ha ki baieit ba la phrang.

LINES WRITTEN TO MOTHERS WHO DISAGREE
WITH THEIR SONS’ CHOICES OF WOMEN

For managing to love
an object of scorn
they place around my neck
a garland of threats.

And the world is cold this winter,
cold as the matrimonial column
they lecture to my sewn-shut ears,
or the stares that stalk
the woman of my choice.

But the cherries are pink
and festive as her love.

Leave cherries to winter, mother,
love to seasoned lovers.