Beyond Land and Time

Deer

(Horinerā)

Translated by Anupam Banerji

I watch the deer dash

ln the woods of the Palash

ln the moonbeams of springtime

As if in dreams of mine.

On leaves, on dewdrops gleam

The palms of silver moonbeams.

As the wind shakes its wings

Pearls tumble on copious jungle,

On leaves' passages

And in the deer's glances.

In the breeze play the deer

In the pearls' radiant glare.

It seems behind the Hijal branch

In the woods with endless cosmos

Smiles Shefalika Bose

Lighting her diamond lamp.

Ah, Shefalika!

Only these deer know

In the spring moon's glow

That your earth obscure is no more!

Again the wind jerks its wings,

Diamonds shower in the stag's eyes

As they play in the wind,

In the diamond glint.