A moment of unearthly peace
When the perissodactyl ambles nearby.
A sight from another era
When dinosaurs roamed free.
Nibbling grass, swaying placid in the endless green
Clicking selfies in the background
Wild elephant grass tall as sky
Our jeep a creature from machine era, grazing the dust of distance.
A mother and child, nuzzle patient
Rain a presence of yesterday
Leaves glistening like pearls from spring
Flowers at a bride’s doorstep.
The jeep rumbles once, grumbling into motion.
Mud tracks laid for the coming summer.
Then will arrive torrential monsoon
When all things, even memories, will be underwater.
We pass by a distracted hog, two wild buffaloes
Another one horned rhino, in the fuzzy distance
As our jeep ploughs on, a cuckoo’s cry piercing the air
The woods not yet lovely, dark and deep.
Elsewhere, time stands still as an elephant
Breathing slow and ponderous
A giant from Cenozoic and Anthropocene
Watching the green whirr past.
Amlanjyoti Goswami’s new book of poetry, A Different Story, has just been published by Poetrywala. He has previously written two widely reviewed books, River Wedding and Vital Signs, published by Poetrywala. River Wedding was shortlisted for the Sahitya Akademi award. A Different Story won the first runner up award at The Wise Owl Literary Awards 2026. Published in journals and anthologies across the world, including Poetry, The Poetry Review, Penguin Vintage, Rattle and Sahitya Akademi, he is also a Best of the Net and Pushcart nominee. His work has appeared on street walls of Christchurch, buses in Philadelphia, exhibitions in Johannesburg and an e-gallery in Brighton. He has reviewed poetry for The Hindu, Frontline, Review 31 and Modern Poetry in Translation among others. He translates poetry from Assamese, Bangla and Hindi into English and some of his poems have been translated from English into Hindi, Punjabi and German. He has read at various places, including Delhi, Mumbai, New York, Chandigarh, Boston and Bangalore. He grew up in Guwahati and lives in Delhi.
Banner image is courtesy the poet.
