They'd light up a spark in my eyes,
They always have, since
Even if I never flew one.
The sight of them refusing to take off
As you let the thread loose, for the winds to give a lift,
The bullying by a rogue gust of wind
That almost tore it right at the tip
Made you wonder if they'd ever fly.
But they got friendly with the wind in a wink
And, as they played pranks,
They lit up a smile.
As they used the dodge and dive
To gather speed like an eagle
To climb to heights and glory
They'd light up a spark in my eyes,
They always have since,
Even if I didn't own even one
The kites of Cuttack!
They stir up a ripple in my heart
And I still miss a beat
As memories roll in, in waves
Of lazy afternoons
During Christmas holidays,
Maybe beyond,
When we'd race up the stairs to the terrace
To catch a glimpse of the skies
When the colorful kites played hide and seek
When they'd compliment
The thick floral canopy on trees.
Must be something about Cuttack's soil
That the kites aren't the same,
If ever I get to see!
They stir up a ripple in my heart
And I still catch them in my dreams
On lazy afternoons
Over Christmas breaks
Several winters later!
They'd take to the skies everyday,
And brighten up the mood every evening,
Against the golden horizons,
It almost became a habit,
You get drawn closer,
And you'd see yourself among them,
Taking to the skies, with your loved one.
As the Sun slipped below the horizons,
It'd be the just the two of you
None there to disturb,
Until a rogue kite swayed in,
Snapped the thread
And let her wander away
And left you longing for her to come back.
Do they still take to the skies everyday,
Do they brighten up the mood, every evening,
Did the snapped one find her way back
The kite of Cuttack!
© Sashikant Mohanty
