Beyond Land and Time

The Corpse

(Shôb)

Translated by Fakrul Alam

Where the silvery moonlight moistens in the reeds,

Where swarms of mosquitoes make their homes;

Where gold fish snap these blue mosquitoes

In silence, expectantly;

Where in a corner of the world, all alone,

The river takes on the tones of the silent fish;

Where the river, from its bed of reeds and tall grasses

Only has eyes for the reddening evening sky;

In the darkness of a starlit night,

Like a woman shaking a huge knot of blue hair,

Some other river stirs; but this is a river

Of multi-colored clouds and yellow moonlight;

Look up and you will see all that is dark and light disperse here;

Red blue fish clouds - pale blue moonlight

Take over; this is where Mrinalini Ghoshal's corpse

Will float forever; in blue red silvery silence.