NOSTALGIC LYRIC: "THE NEIGHBOUR'S TELEPHONE" BY SOMDATTA MITRA.

A time immemorial that still refreshes my enriching vibes today, 

I recall a society where not every household possessed a telephone. 

Often cycling to my neighbour's house to receive an STD call, Where a relative's voice travelled to us

 like a migratory bird returning faithfully to its nest.

Voices blooming like jasmine flowers in the evening air,

 A sudden knock at my door! 

 to proclaim that a loved one waited there. 

Excitement knew no boundaries as I rushed to the neighbour's home, 

Quickly answering the telephone where affection had lovingly roamed.

Off it came like electricity coursing through my veins, Conversations flowing like rivers through unseen channels of affection. 

Every laughter, every feeling hidden inside my heart ,

sensed a homecoming,

 Every spoken word became a keepsake of the heart.

It seemed as though the caller cradled a universe of emotions, As if millions of butterflies guided my innocence ; 

 into a soothing garden of dreams.

The neighbour's doorway became a harbour for distant voices,

Where affection anchored safely beyond the tides of separation.

I have never seen my neighbours to be strangers by heart , For their kindness transformed acquaintance into an enduring art. Their cheerful faces and welcoming smiles enriched a humble lane , Where compassion was the spectacle through which we viewed the world.

Thereafter sharing the same vivid conversations with my neighbours, Recounting every affectionate word that had travelled through the telephone line. 

Added more warmth and spirit to the emotions I had gathered,

 Like embers glowing brighter beneath the gentle breath of companionship.

It never concluded there,

 for it was always an extension to a new chapter of life.

 Where every conversation blossomed,

 beyond its momentary lifespan .

After narrating the treasured exchange, we wandered through countless themes, Connecting our spirits through memories, aspirations, and dreams.

© Somdatta Mitra

- India

14.6.2026

"The Neighbour's Telephone" by Somdatta Mitra is a nostalgic poem that reflects on a time when few households owned telephones, and neighbours played an important role in connecting families and friends. The poet fondly recalls the excitement of receiving calls at a neighbour's house and the joy of sharing those precious moments with the community. Through vivid imagery and warm memories, the poem celebrates kindness, neighbourly love, and the strong social bonds that flourished before modern technology made communication commonplace. It suggests that these shared experiences created lasting friendships and enriched everyday life with compassion and togetherness.