By
Hillol Ray

Hovering clouds around the peaks and slopes of Mt. Everest,
Called me home to witness their constant agonies with pain-
As the assaulted shadows of sadness were heaping up,
And my quill began to compose all oeuvres not in vain!

The agonized heart that beats in balanced measures,
Perplexed me like prisoned crickets in a big thicker-
And in a rush, I tried to refresh their summoning desire,
By clutching, staggering, and uprising like in a picker!

The gusty winds over Mt. Everest were struggling hard,
And striving so desperately to break the blue clouds apart-
While the barrage of lightnings spitted with occasional flickering,
And the peaks shuddered like dancing demons on the pallid dart!

Incessant gray rain down poured to weave curtains of invisibility,
And at a distance, the wisp of rainbow vapors curled up to hide-
Sure enough, the copper sun stunned with golden lights,
Over the scarlet clouds took them to task and chide!

The bluish grey lingering clouds, once restless,
Seemed to be tamed now, but awful lazy-
Over the black dappled slopes of the Mt. Everest,
Adorned with flora and fauna and appear to be hazy!

The nature changes my mood, and as I know it should,
With the rise of sun beneath the sluggish folds of skies-
And clouds start retreating, cooling and uncooling,
To fill in the voids in their heaps before my eyes!

The assaulted clouds split the beauty of the solemn sky,
With their hue oozing from sprinkling Autumn rain-
And my nose senses an acidic smell from the flora,
Showered by the troops of silver dancers in their den!

The quill begins to hear their chanting and roaring,
Followed by the whirling winds with stomping as well-
And the oeuvres of clouds assaulted around Mt. Everest
Get penned for the books, where they will happily dwell!!

“Milestone”
April 17, 2024
© Copyright April 17, 2024, by Hillol Ray

Hillol Ray in Brief 

(HillolRay D.Litt., Ph.D. (Doctor of Humanity), D.Phil (Theology), Ph.D. (Honoris Causa), D.Phil., Poet Laureate, Author, Song Writer, Translator, and Multilinguist, is a Civil - Structural - Environmental Engineer with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Dallas, Texas. Born and raised in a suburb of Kolkata, India, he received letters of personal compliments for his innovative thoughts and poems from the U.S. former President Bill Clinton, the U.S. former Vice President and Nobel Peace Laureate Al Gore, Jr., the U.S. former EPA Administrator Ms. Lisa P. Jackson, former Indian Ambassador S.S. Ray in Washington, D.C., from Madame Francine Cousteau, President of the Cousteau Society, Inc. in Paris, France (and wife of world-renowned Oeeanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau), and Mother Teresa of Kolkata, India. His impressive professional and literary successes stem from his deep love and dedication for man and his environment.

 Dr. Ray is often invited as a guest poet or keynote speaker. at various cultural organizations, institutions, universities and libraries. He has been interviewed in several radio and television stations in USA and abroad.

As an apostle of a sustainable world leading to the improvement of human rights and peace, tolerance and environmental awareness, Hillol has vested his lifelong work, financial resources, and creative writings by establishing the Hillol Ray Foundation for Human Rights (HR FF HR), Hillol Ray Foundation for Peace and Environment (HR FF P and E) and Diamond Think Tank, USA.

In 2006, he received the NFIA (National Federation of Indian American Association) Award in Liberal and Fine Arts from Long Beach, California, USA. His biography has appeared in “500 Leaders of Science”, “International Directory of Distinguished Leadership” – both published by the American Biographical Institute (ABI) in North Carolina, USA and in many other biographical books, including International Biographical Centre (IBC) from Cambridge, United Kingdom. Nationally and internationally interviewed, his works have appeared in many magazines, web sites, and anthologies around the world. In February 2018, he was presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by the Marquis Who’s Who of New Jersey, USA. Dr, Ray is listed in Who’s Who in Asian-Americans, Marquis Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, and Who’s Who in the World. In June 2022, Dr. Ray was presented with “World Ambassador of Culture and Peace” byt he IFCH of Kingdom of Morocco.)