Two Poems

Two Poems Bibhu Padhi (bio) fever This is like reminiscing about a feverone has just gone through, withthe temperature constantly touchingthe uppermost end of the thermometer. You could not think of anythingexcept yourself—your body, yourmind, the depletion of thoughts,the very painful loss of words. Even your memory does notbelong to you, having traveledto a land you never visited norheard of, but somehow know. The fever had laid you in the bed,without movement, without food,without much of a shelter. Is shelteronly a house with rooms? You feel sure it could not be so. It is moreconsiderate, taking care of your mindand heart, your small body, withoutthe unscrupulous silence of a fever. [End Page 128] ancestral roles This vibration is beyondthe psychic, is almostperennial, quiet. We must work towardits perfection, applyourselves to our commitments. Some things move out,having failed to act outtheir ancestral roles. Then they spend their timedoing nothing exceptrecalling the past day's work. They get up from sleephave their lemon tea and relax.The day begins its round across an incalculable space,an indefinite time. There isyet another cup of tea and a waiting for anotherpiece of sleep. Now sleepseems rare, belonging to an irretrievable past.The day is approachingits highest point, its moving away from all that was truein the morning, allthat was new and fulfilling. The vibration is back again,quietly, disturbing no one,like a leaf on a tree that hardly knows what it is for.We look at the tree, inspired byits greatness, humbled by its mere presence. The leaves dancein green abundance, as if they were free,hardly taking note of their own end. [End Page 129] Bibhu Padhi Bibhu Padhi has published seventeen books of poetry and has been included in numerous anthologies and textbooks. His poems have also appeared in such magazines as Contemporary Review, London Magazine, Poetry Review, Poetry Wales, Wasafiri, American Scholar, Poet Lore, Poetry Magazine, Southwest Review, TriQuarterly, Antigonish Review, Dalhousie Review, Queen's Quarterly, and Indian Literature. He lives with his family in Bhubaneswar, India. Copyright © 2022 University of Hawai'i Press

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