Beyond Land and Time

An October Dawn

(Kārtik Bhorє : 1340)

Translated by Asif Chowdhury

In that October dawn

The dew that descended

on my eyes, my face, my hair,

did so as the Shaliks intended.

Three Shaliks feeling the emblica tree

in the midst of a soaked October’s sunlight

like three women whom I knew with my own heart;

With the sun? Or is it the sun’s sandals

they put on to visit this earth

and to flee from her.

Countless Shaliks I have seen in this life of mine

yet I long for those three.