Henzoonaha

Yaiphabi Thoudam *

Long long ago,far away in a village remote
There lived a young boy, wild and free
People talks about him, his might and his strength
Henzoonaha was his beautiful name.

In a village not far away, there lived a young girl
Whose eyes sparkled like fireflies
Her hair as dark as night and as straight as Henzoos spears
Lairourembi was her maiden name.

Rumours spread in the village remote
People talked about a love affair
That of Henzoonaha and Lairourembis
'So divine and so true' they murmured.

Lairourembi was the bony and beautiful one
Henzoonaha was he- the son of a widow
And rumours had spread in the village, wide and far
'They are so much in love' thats what people said

On a day so bright, Henzoonaha behold his beloved
'I would come and meet you' he told his lady love
Wait for me in the night of 'lampta-thagja'
Well count the stars and watch the sun rise from the hill

They promised they would meet
On the dark and deep night of 'lampta-thangja'
The love-bound, the beautiful and the brave
-Henzoonaha and Lairourembi were their names.

The widow that his mother was, she wondered
'Why does my left eye flicker too much?'
'Is any evil looming around anywhere?'
'Oh dear crows- why do you crow so much?'

With motherly love in her eyes she had whispered
'Oh sweet brave child of mine, the night is so dark;
Remember, evils dwell in the dark and they feed on our souls
Tonight stay safe beside your old widow mother'

But, as the night got darker and deeper
To meet his dearly beloved Lairourembi
Stealthily Henzoonaha left the house;
In defiance of his mothers words.

To quench the thirst of his love
To fulfil the promise that was made
Of a meeting pure and divine
He stepped out in the deep dark night

Waiting in the cold and creepy silence
In the hollow shadows of the dark night
Were many voices and images unknown
Sharoi Ngaroi- were their evil names

The evil spirits chased Henzoonaha
Blocked his path and blinded his eyes
Voices and spirits followed him
Like shadow so hollow and ghostly
Henzonaha whispered Lairourembis name
His feeble voice assured 'I am coming to meet you'
Fought the spirits with his strength and might
And ran as fast he could towards his lady love

But so evil and cruel the spirits they were
They laughed at Henzoonahas plight
Took hold of his strong black hair
Pulled him down in the icy cold ground

Henzoonaha fought with the demons unseen
Oh the evils- they strangled his hands from behind
Chocked his heart and the spirits danced over his body
The body that was of Henzoonaha

Evils dispersed and died with the coming of the sun shine
But there lied in the eaves of his own house
The beautiful body that was of a widow's son
The body that was of beloved Henzoonaha

What a story evil and disastrous
Evil does exist, and they exist in the dark
They loom around for evil opportunity

Like a shadow, like a voice, like an image
In forms shapeless and deformed
In words, in actions, in thoughts

What a scary and interesting story it is
Evil does exist, and they get hold of you
When you least expect them

What a story evil and interesting
Learn a lesson if you must
Evil exist also in defiance and disobedience

What a story worth listening
Always heed advice that of the elders
In it lies wisdom that will help fight the evils ***

The Folk Tale/story by Sanatombi Angomcha (18th December 2008) inspired me to write this poem. I am unsure how correct my narration is- as like all folk stories, it was passed down to me through word of mouth. Errors please correct. Mistakes, I apologise.
Many thanks - Yaiphabi Thoudam