O Meghalaya….

The misty pines stood tall and proud

Clouds embraced the blue hills all around.

“Phi long kumno?” asked the little child

And my answer to that was lost in the wild.

The abandoned cemetery and the forgotten grave

But it was treaded by someone with a heart so brave;

A mossy monolith and a handful of “kwai”

Was all that remained to remember him by.

In the small village of Mawlynnong the houses were neat

The ladies were busy while the men were on the street.

The aged Siem held a meeting where decisions were made

And the feast followed – of meat and bread.

From the small lone Church carols filled the air

God must have loved listening to this prayer.

Kwai stained lips knitted some stories of the past

And the local tales of hate , love and lust.

The brethren of the hills said, “Leit suk..we will miss you”;

“ I will be back very soon” I promised before saying “adieu”.

*(Siem - the siem is the religious and secular head of Khasi village

Phi long kumno ? - How are you ?

Kwai – Betel nut

Leit suk – Go in peace

Mawlynnong - Mawlynnong village, in the East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, also referred to as 'God's own garden' has won the acclaim of being the cleanest village in Asia) 

*(Siem - the siem is the religious and secular head of Khasi village

Phi long kumno ? - How are you ?

Kwai – Betel nut

Leit suk – Go in peace

Mawlynnong - Mawlynnong village, in the East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, also referred to as '

God's own garden' has won the acclaim of being the cleanest village in Asia)