Beyond Land and Time

Within the Background

(Pôtôbhumir)

Translated by Ananda Lal

When I saw you, ten-fifteen years ago,

Going within the background—when time, hiding within

The black clouds of your hair, ignited the lightning in

Your intense woman's face—O innermost one, you know.

Your face: on all sides, water clamours in the dark,

No pilot to steer to the shore—still the deep breeze

Brings all war-weary tired sailors home from the seas:

They are young, they are dead, death's the fruit of much work.

Time isn't barred anywhere; still, on your face's way

You stand alone stopping him even now, woman—

Like a ring round the sun, to say we were all human

At dawn—perhaps, a sign in this blind world today.

Illusory seas all round—Jason, Odysseus, Phoenician

Merchants' tense lights—not pious Asok's era,

but aeons from above

We bear even now, loot coral from each rough ocean—

Your eyes' dejected censure . . . beloved, I quench love.