Beyond Land and Time

From the Breast of the Grass

(Rupôshi Bānglā 45: Ghāshєr Buker Thєkє)

Translated By Luna Rushdi

From the breast of the grass one day emerged this body of mine—

from the green grass; so sunshine feels divine—the blue sky thus

seems melancholy dewy and benign;—hence this roadside grass

feels soothing like water;—as if a nest for the bees

is this grass;—as far as I may travel and beyond spreads

the earth beneath tender footsteps whisper breaths of the

virgin’s hearts—their calm hands caress and their hair

fall loose—they appear with the smell of grey saris—tell tales

of ancient souls—sorrows of the heart—the discreet tender

murmurs of consolance—they speak of the

moon above the meadow and of the stars beneath the sky;

they relish the immaculate winter dew,—the fog feels

good upon the eyes, warm raindrops seem soothing

on wintry nights—the softness of an owl;

Lovely are these falling leaves of

            Aswattha and Mango all night long.