Shamu Makhong : A Manipuri Poem

Shamu Makhong

ema keithel do kaihoure
maroi manam na chaihoure
miyam gi khonga netkhaibada
anouba hingol maroi sing do
pathoure.....

Masidasu natte
kanagi nga makhal suna chaihoure
ema singdo pot hundoklamlaga
masa masa hingnaba chennakhre

Ho! Bazaar do kaihoure..
Mi kappam bagira? Natte
Combing operation la? Natte
adudi karino...

Shamu makhong gi shamu do ngaohoure!
Madi karigi ngaoriba asuk kuiba matamdi ngaodraga
Ngaoba oirammoi...

ei amukta warisage ngaigkho:
hey Shamu, karigino nangna tafing tafing chelliba
kanada kari warouba leire..
ema singse hingnanaba keithel famjabani
nangna loina thugaire keithel se, kari pende nang?

Hey, lamdam sigi mitangba Praja
eise kuire lengdana leirakpa
yenge yenglakpani, eibu thawoide nakhoina
enaton se kenba yaba kenkhre
emeisisu hanna yengbide nakhoina

matam amadadi
eibu yengba arappada gi mi kaya ama lak ammi
ngasidi nakhoigi chaokhatpagi mitou tamba heinabiduna
eigi ethak ta thong sajille,,,(flyover kouwee hai Maharja na)
eibu udre...
eina touriba haibabu ngaiba
eina asum asum tumsillakpa ngairi
adubu nakhoigi taibangsu tumsillakle,,
takutchei nakhoigi sajat..
Sa ga khetnaba leite.
eidi nungtigi ui;
lapna lakchaba pot yonbi singbu
Imphal machana pot yolhande
nakhoi sibu mira,
murti oina faoba eidi nakhoise pamjade

Maharaj Bheigyachandra dasu haijarure wakatlure eina
Adubu madi apangbani.
mana khalli;
madudi thong asida mahak
Kangla manungda
nongmadi changkhini
ngasi mahakti ngairi.
kayada pangliba!
ningthou yamle ngasidi
mahak ti khangjade
mahak ti supnadagi murti ni murti


The above poem is written by my friend Ronid alias Akhu. The english script is used to write this poem so my non-Manipuri friend will find it difficult to understand even if they can read. A salute to him for such a moving poem.

The poem is about the neglected one time famous landmark status in Manipur known as "Shamu Makhong" which is now deteriorating due to neglect. There is hell lot of history behind this statue which I'll post sometimes later.