Nostalgia Symphony: A Reflection on Life in Syadheh, Ri Bhoi, My Childhood Village

In Syadheh, Ri Bhoi my childhood village, nestled at the base of Lum Sohpetbneng,
the rustic huts and sounds of animals formed a symphony of nostalgia.
The aroma of ‘Ktung wait’ our favourite dry fish cooked in ‘Ka Lung Sei’ our homemade bamboo shoot,
mingled with the pungent scent of ‘U Niangryndia’ , a delicacy of worm.
Cows and ponies ambled by as lullabies for the village's babes.
The presence of ‘Thlong Dung Kba’ , a traditional woody fence,
reminded us of our connection to the land.
We lived simply, using bamboo as glass and banana leaves as plates,
unfamiliar with the advancements of television,
but steeped in our own indigenous knowledge and techniques.
We ate from our backyard gardens, ‘Khlaw Raid’,
and caught fish from the river with traditional bamboo nets.
We embraced the heat of the sun as we worked our fields,
our soles as hard as steel from walking barefoot.
Nature was our mother, and we showed our gratitude through worship and respect.
We laughed at simple jokes and humors,
and fasted to test our discipline and resilience.
We walked miles daily, to the fields, to our homes, to the river.
We bathed with Sohpiengrah, nature's own soap.
In Syadheh, we lived in harmony with one another,
knowing only love and support.
A metaphor for life, in its purest, simplest form.