Beyond Land and Time

In a Baishakh Night

(Bôishākher Rātє)

Translated by Golam Mustafa

In the Kolkata Park

In the starlit expanse of a Baishakh night

In the open air

Two men were talking of four-thousand and fifty six taka

The next group called six thousand, then six thousand and

a half

What is six thousand and a half? The stars? The long

night? Kisses? The waves of the sea?

Six thousand and a half taka.

The next man was accounting for four taka and five anaas,

And the other was talking of a rupee.

I also was thinking who cheated me with a grazed quarter?

What could a quarter bring me at all?

In the extensive starlit night of Baishakh

In the open air.