Her majesty-the ‘Princess’ ascends <br />To the grand Himalayan durbar <br />Amidst fir, rhododendron trees <br />Standing tall- each a courtier. <br /> <br />Finely woven carpets are <br />Laid in all her vicinity <br />With an emerald green hue- <br />Of the tender leaves of tea. <br /> <br />Veiled behind the mists of Ghoom <br />‘Queen of Hills’-Darjeeling adorns <br />Her imperial throne, glowing in gold- <br />The Kanchenjungha- as the world knows. <br /> <br />The Kanchenjungha stands <br />Kissing the sapphire blue sky; <br />Draped in golden attire at dawn <br />Its mighty peaks rise high. <br /> <br />With tiny steps the princess <br />Rushes towards her mother - <br />Climbing loops, leaping over springs <br />Nothing makes her bother. <br /> <br />The beautiful hills greet her <br />With marigold, magnolia flowers <br />But the lure of such gifts <br />The innocent princess little cares. <br /> <br />Gifts lie untouched beside her tracks <br />While she passes by as a toy <br />To embrace the warmth of mother’s lap <br />Panting, puffing, whistling with joy.<br /><br />Somdev Mukherjee<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-princess-ascends-on-the-trail-of-the-darjeeling-toy-train-a-world-heritage/
