I am my winter poem
without the alphabet of
snow men or snow whites-
all my letters
are an oxbow lake hallucinating
whistling teal, jacana* and egret words-
a warm winter stifles me –
yet my phrases freeze-
for your** sunny words
have forever ceased-
*jacana is a winter bird of Bengal
**‘your’ refers to one of my favorite Bengali writers Dr. Nabanita Dev Sen who breathed her last this 7 Nov.
Nabanita Dev Sen
Posted for Pantry of Poetry and Prose @ Poets United
sumanar/lekha 
Sad! A beautiful tribute.
A beautiful, heart-squeezing salute to a writer that warmed the world with her words. I know some might say that her words will be forever. But like your poem implies, something happens even to the sunniest of words when their creator stops breathing the same air we breathe.
I have found an English translation of I, Anupam ! So I can check out this author (approximately, anyway), whose death turns your words into hallucinations of ice and melt. Such a beautiful poem! I found a book of poetry as well: 25 poems about choice.
I paused at every line- especially love the first one… I just saw a bronze winged Jacana at the lake last week and your poem is filled with that imagery….
Such a beautiful poem – and tribute
It is hard to say goodbye to beloved poets. Thank you for this encomium.
The world often feels a little chillier when one of its bright sparks goes out.
Such a beautiful colourful-bird winter poem, Sumana. I love the phrase ‘without the alphabet of / snow men or snow whites’.
A lovely tribute, the chill of her absence is felt in your words
Happy Sunday. Thank you for dropping by my blog today
Much✏love
“An oxbow lake hallucinating” – such a stunning phrase. I love the “egret words”. Beautiful, Sumana.
Lovely atmospheric piece Sumana – you took me there… Regards Scott
This is such a beautifully eloquent write, Sumana! ❤️ I too love the phrase; “without the alphabet of / snow men or snow whites.”
What a wonderful, loving epitaph. Your words are stirring. Beautiful phrases that do not freeze for your readers.
This is beautiful Sumana. Each phrase is a treat–and the whole, a gift.
What a sad but beautiful poem Sumana. For every friend or mentor dies we feel a loss that we can never recover from.
To say goodbye to any voice that nurtures us is difficult. At least writers leave a trail behind for us to always gather strength.
Wonderful emotive words … so poignant and impactful … a beautiful tribute.
it is indeed winter.
this is such a beautiful tribute. i like the imagery of birds in the poem. somehow, they speak of freedom.
A beautiful tribute to your friend and mentor..
What a beautiful tribute…such exquisite poetry