{"id":969,"date":"2016-07-23T16:17:02","date_gmt":"2016-07-23T16:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mtls.wpcenter.io\/staging\/?p=969"},"modified":"2026-10-14T16:04:30","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T16:04:30","slug":"saad-nizam-muzumdar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mtls.ca\/issue28\/saad-nizam-muzumdar\/","title":{"rendered":"Saad Nizam Muzumdar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<br>\n(Excerpts from the forthcoming collection, \u201cEchoes from the Hills\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1.&#8217;Twas the Night Before&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Massive milestones skipped<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Atop the backs of ripples<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rushing in a pond\u2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The little pebbles scattered<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Along the pondshore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pond has frozen over, and I<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Have walked across it\u2015or<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Felt I have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There goes a chime at this midnight hour\u2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Who rings at this hour?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The wind whispers at my window,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it is not the voice<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m familiar with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is a new voice, bred<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From eavesdropping atop<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The eaves of a dark, slender steeple,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dressed in a white lace gown<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With a long tail that hangs from the eaves,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dropping but not touching<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The grey cobbled streets,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where women in great brown coats,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collars popped,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Swish and slosh galoshes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a sprinkling of snow,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having their every word captioned\u2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Visually captioned in white mist<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the yellow fog of a winter dusk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There comes another at this midnight hour\u2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Chime!\u2e3aChime!\u2e3aChime!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Who rings at this hour?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The house breathes the laughter of people,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Who with bobbing heads float<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From room to room,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kitchen to couch,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Conversation to conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Resurrected stories pinch childrens\u2019 cheeks,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turning them red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Get some more plates\u2015more plates!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Drinks swirl in cups as dizzy people twirl,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The envious falling flakes watching from<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The window copy their graceful dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Uncles with aunts have arrived alongside<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aunts with uncles\u2015and little bundles<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of cousins to add to the heap<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That has spilled over into a blur of<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fusion-propelled, constant, rambunctious motion,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like the wisping waltz<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The translucent grey of chimney smoke<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Performs on this boisterous night,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When all hearts pound in silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em> Marriage Morning<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The winter sun\u2019s afraid to cry;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its tears freeze before they can leave the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">O, beam into my eyes and fall through<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The yellow fog of my mind!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My heart has already been illuminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sun is tired as it crawls out<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From its dark, earthy blanket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sun is embarrassed\u2015marriage morning\u2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And nearly late; its cheeks have turned red<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the sight of the fair, frigid wind<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blowing a kiss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From my window, I see<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new dusting of snow atop dark roofs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2015a heather-coloured nether\u2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The great sky has thrown itself over a couch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are below its bodily weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How heavy?\u2015too heavy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How heavy!\u2015too heavy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They sway with my stir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They cover the granite floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I straddle my legs, wooden<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like oars, through the husks of shoes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Waiting in port at the front door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>III. The Golden Close of Love<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here comes the<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Father of the bride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here comes the<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Father of the bride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Step\u2e3astop\u2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Step\u2e3astop\u2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Step\u2e3astep\u2e3astop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pupils shimmer like the golden drinks<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In every hand, swaying from side to side in story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The callous music, once stepping down the aisle<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like it were Gaston with ego-bloated chest,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now whimpers in the faint echoes behind the beast\u2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wild laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Joy beams with blaring light from every face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But past the round isles<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">of white-top tables,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Past the hands that hang out in points<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And gestures,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Up upon<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some distance stage,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There sits the bride,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Who only sees<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her husband and a<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">World yet to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; (Excerpts from the forthcoming collection, \u201cEchoes from the Hills\u201d) 1.&#8217;Twas the Night Before&nbsp; &nbsp; Massive milestones skipped Atop the backs of ripples Rushing in a pond\u2015 The little pebbles scattered Along the pondshore. &nbsp; The pond has frozen over, and I Have walked across it\u2015or Felt I have. &nbsp; There goes a chime at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5272,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poetry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtls.ca\/issue28\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtls.ca\/issue28\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtls.ca\/issue28\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtls.ca\/issue28\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtls.ca\/issue28\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=969"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/mtls.ca\/issue28\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/969\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5535,"href":"https:\/\/mtls.ca\/issue28\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/969\/revisions\/5535"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtls.ca\/issue28\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtls.ca\/issue28\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtls.ca\/issue28\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtls.ca\/issue28\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}