Beyond Land and Time

Once on the Bank of the Jalshiri

(Rupôshi Bāngla 6: Єk din Jôlshiri nôditir pārє)

Translated by Mushtaque Ahmad

Once on the bank of the Jalshiri

On this field of Bengal

I shall lie under a withered banyan tree;−

Red fruits like fur will drop on lonely grass−

the crescent moon will keep awake−

The water of this river like Bengali maiden will strike

Warily against the grey doors of the temple of Bishalakshmi−

Then the broken ghat where the damsels come no more.

Where only jute rots.

Cloistered by the cluster of Kalmi

Will weep like a witch all night

It will see some people came long before

And erected a funeral pyre with mango-logs:

The amazed Sraban sky of Bengal will keep on gazing:−

Opening its mild and gentle eyes

A doused owl will tell stories of Lakshmi

In the forest of Kadam−

The river will sing the ballad of Bhasan in solitude

All arround are spread Bengal’s sari of paddy-

Conch − bangle white −

A blue shrine

Wrapped up by Bengal’s grass, sun plant, creepers of Basak−

Is falling apart slowly in an indifferent mood−

All these surprising delights abound all around−