Beyond Land and Time

If I got an Eternal Life

(Rupôshi Bānglā Shôngjôjon 4: Ônônto Jibôn jodi pai āmi)

Translated by Faizul Latif Chowdhury

If I got an eternal life − and then alone go on

walking the paths of the world : I shall see green grasses

spring up and yellow leaves drop off − watch the sky

clearing as it dawns − and at the dusk, a streak of

blood from a slain Munia clinging to its bosom−and sessions with the stars, time and again that too. I shall see

how an unknown woman makes her way

her loose bun falling apart − ah, her face lacks

twilight’s comely touch.

If I really got an endless life − and for eternity

roamed about the world − past a lot of

trams, buses and dusts − bunch of slums and bazaars – across

swampy lanes, pieces of broken chillum and urn –

a fight here, a quarrel there, squint eyes, rotten shrimps −

Caught sight of so many things all on the way

Except a glimpse of you for once ever in this life.