Beyond Land and Time

Why At All Do the Stars

(Kenô Miche Nôkshotrerā)

Translated by Tapan Jyoti Barua

Why at all do the stars come yet again? What’s the use of

            the waking up of the azure sky?

Why does the moon drift like a golden peacock-boat

            behind the branches of an aswattha tree?

Why does the dewy kiss suffuse dust with moist earthy smell?

Why on earth are kash flowers in bloom in such rich clusters?

From the wings of kites the sunlight flashes

Silently on human eyes like the secret kiss;

The sun splits up in myriad particles

And desires to be still, slowly much stiller in the river.

The kingfisher with red blue white orange feathers

Comes quietly flitting like a sign,

Eager to show in love how big

Is the sunlit spot in between two blind seas.

Away from all suspicions this time

I kept my heart calm, still and clean

And saw the kingfisher-sun slowly die away;

You’re sure to find your new love some day

some other morning.