Hurriyet

By Ritu Borah

But I will pick up my eyes from the middle—
or from where I left them— 
to see. 

Like a hydrant hot spring
travelling deep indoors, 
something stirs and spills—
to chill, to blend, to radiate. 

Little smokes outside,
a wave rising from the shivering floor. 
Under their burn-belts, 
newly observant eyes—

the sun, 
carrying its own river,
steps into limelight upon fog. 
A little quilt, 
a little satin— 
morning dawns its programme
as the sky catches an edge of itself. 

Some tabby cows, 
chewing mossy, osmotic cud,
busy with informal duties,
receive the day as quiet. 

Like sunflowers to their God, 
their ears turn— 
channel what moves around them, 
fix with beginning. 

But skinny ants—
oh, those early errands— 
smuggling bread from the corridor, 
where diabolical sugar is twenty-four by seven heaven. 

To seize this opening, 
they will enter the pond,
mistaking shine for shore, 
and drown—
claiming hurriyet.

Ritu Borah is a poet and writer from Sadiya, Assam. His debut poetry collection, Hymns of Mind and Heart to Soul, was published in 2020. He writes primarily in the avant-garde tradition, working in free-style forms that merge imagery, intuition, and experimental rhythm. His work often draws from the landscapes, people, and lived experiences around him, shaping them into reflective and unconventional poetic narratives.

Alongside his writing, he works as a high school teacher at Evergreen English School in Bura Buri, Sadiya. He continues to deepen his craft while contributing to the literary culture of his region. His writings reflect a commitment to artistic exploration and an ongoing search for new expressive possibilities.