World Poetry Festival magazine 2021

!îÙ» WORLD
†þ!î•þy POETRY
’þzê¤î FESTIVAL
2021
2021

¤Á›y˜ly Edited by
öôï!ô•þy þ›y¡ MOUMITA PAL

Date of Publication ²Ì†þy¢†þy¡
28 June 2021 28 %l 2021

Organiser xyöìëûy†þ
Koto Kotha Kothokoa †þ•þ †þíy †þí†þ•þy

Main Advisor ²Ì™yl ’þzþ›öì˜ÜTy
Prabal Kumar Basu ²Ìîy¡†%þôyîû î¤%

Translation Team xl%îy˜ !þô
Moumita Pal öôï!ô•þy þ›y¡
ö¤y¥ô ‹þe«î•þÅ#
Soham Chakraborty ÷¥ôhsý# îöì¨Äyþ›y™Äyëû
Haimanti Bandyopadhayaya •þöìþ›yîÊ•þ ô%öì‡yþ›y™Äyëû
Tapobrata Mukhopadhayaya
!þô †þí†þ•þy
Team Kothokota öôï!ô•þy þ›y¡ Œ†þ”Å™yîûŠ
Moumita Pal (Founder)
²Ì¢yhsý ¤îû†þyîû
Prasanta Sarkar Öèþ˜#þ› ö¤l¢ôÅy
Subhadip Sen Sarma
xö짺£ìy ˜y¤
Anwesha Das Öèþ!§º•þy !¤l¥y
Subhanwita Sinha
!îöì¢£ì ¤¥yëû•þy
Special Collaboration x!löìô£ì ô[þ¡ Œîy.y!¡ †þ!îŠ
Animesh Mondal (Bengali Poet) x™#îû†,þ£ ô[þ¡ Œîy.y!¡ †þ!îŠ
Adhirkrishna Mondal (Bengali Poet) xllÄy îöì¨Äyþ›y™Äyëû Œîy.y!¡ †þ!îŠ
Ananya Bandyopadhayaya (Bengali Poet) x!l•þy íy!Á› Œôy¡yëûy¡yô †þ!îŠ
Anita Thampi (Malayalam Poet) ˆö씢 !èþ¤þ›%öì•þ Œôyîûy!‘þ †þ!îŠ
Ganesh Vispute (Marathi Poet) !îëû ¢‚†þîû îôÅ” Œx¤!ôëûy †þ!îŠ
Bijay Sankar Barman (Assamese Poet)
²ÌFS阖 ‚ßiyþ›l– ²Ì†þy¢†þ
Cover, DTP, Publisher Öèþ˜#þ› ö¤l¢ôÅy
Subhadip Sen Sarma

xyôyöì˜îû †þíy

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About Us

For the first time in West Bengal team koto kotha kothakota has organised virtually The World Poetry
Festival 2020-21. It had been a gala time as not only the Bengali poets from the various corners of
the world but also the poets of Indian provincial languages & also the Poets of International languages
participated in this occasion. It continued from The 22nd November,2020 to The January 17, 2021.
Eminent poet Prabal Kumar Basu ushered the festival with his prefatory speech and recitation. The
festival contained of 8(eight) episodes and has received immense positive response from more than
70,000 audiences. Poets of several countries like Newzealand, Spain, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Taiwan,
Italy and also the poets of different provinces of our very own India have recited poems in this grand
festival. Including the poets from Bengal, India and the Global poets, overall 200 poets have read
poems in the occasion. The mastermind behind this Festival is Moumita Pal. From team kothokota,
Subhadip Sensharma and Prashanta Sarkar were in charge of the Festival. This “KOTHOKOTA” is a
magazine on behalf of the organizers based on this world poetry festival.

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’þzþ›y¤ly ¤îû†þyîû 192– xy†þy¢ îûyëû 194– •,þ”y ‹þe«î•þÅ# 195– ly!˜îûy xy¥öìô˜ 196– ¢#£ìÅy 197
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l#¡y!o ö˜î 205– ’þzIμ¡ ö‰y£ì 206– !l•þÄyl¨ ˜_ 207– ö˜îöìÄy!•þ †þôņþyîû 208– x‰ÅĆþô¡ þ›ye 209
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÷¥ôhsý# îöì¨Äyþ›y™Äyëû 216– ö¤y¥ô ‹þe«î•þÅ# 217– ²Ì¢yhsý ¤îû†þyîû 221– •þöìþ›yîÊ•þ ô%öì‡yþ›y™Äyëû 222–

Öèþ˜#þ› ö¤l¢ôÅy 223– öôï!ô•þy þ›y¡ 224

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èþyîû•þ#ëû ¥z‚öìîû! èþy£ìy

¤Á›)lÅy ‹þÄyþyÅ# 233– ~ ö íôy¤ 237– †þyOöì¡y‹þl þ›y‘þ†þ 241

=îûy!þ èþy£ìy

†þô¡ öèþyîûy 243

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x!l•þy íy!Á› 250– !èþ ~ô !ˆ!îûy 253– ~ô !þ› ²Ìy•þ#¢ 257– ~ô xyîû öîûl%†%þôyîû 259

G!’þüëûy èþy£ìy

î#”yþ›y!l ö˜î•þy 262

!¥¨# èþy£ìy
¤öìhsýy£ì xÄyöì¡: 266– x!èþKþy•þ 267– †%þôyîû î#îû !¤‚ ôy•þÅyuþ 270– xöì¢y†þ îôÅy Œ!¥¨# G îy‚¡yŠ 273

ôyîûy!‘þ èþy£ìy

ˆö씢 !èþ¤þ›%öì•þ 276– öô‰ly èþyß%ñöìþ 279– ¥zˆl!¢ëûy¤ !˜ëûy¤ 284

x¤ô#ëûy èþy£ìy

!îëû ¢‚†þîû îôÅ” 287– ¤ô#îû ¢‚†þîû ˜_ 289– †%þ¢¡ ˜_ 294– xl%èþî •%þ¡¤# 296
xB%þîû îûOl æ%þ†þyl 299– ¡%êæþy ¥yl%ô ö¤!¡ôy öîˆô 303– ô¥/ †þyôy¡’þz!jl xy¥öìô˜ 306

!l’þz!¡Äyuþ

x!¡!èþëûy ôÄy†þy!¤ 309

öß›l

æÊþy!ª¤öì†þy ô%öìly ö¤y¡yîû 312

þ›y!†þhßìyl

¤yîyà!jl ¥Äy’þ!ëûy!¡†þ 314

•þy¥zGëûyl

ö‹þléŸé!¤’þzéŸéö‹þl 316

¥zþy!¡

ôy!îûëûy öþöìîûy öþöì’þ 319– xÄyly öæþ!îûGöìîûy 321

Content

Bengali Language

Sudhendu Mallik 10, Pabitra Mukhopadhayaya 11, Dipak Kar 12, Kalikrishna Guha 13, Debdas Acharya 14
Banibrata Chakraborty 15, Kamalesh Pal 16, Shymalkanti Das 17, Sudhir Dutta 18, Joy Goswami 19
Nirmal Halder 20, Sankar Chakraborty 21, Mridul Dasgupta 22, Brata Chakraborty 23
Biswadeb Mukhopadhayaya 24, Samiran Ghosh 25, Amitav Maitra 26, Prasun Bandyopadhayaya 27

Sabyasachi Deb 28, Sujit Sarkar 29, Ratantanu Ghanti 30, Prabal Kumar Basu 32, Tilottama Majumder 33
Bibhas Roychoudhury 35, Hemanta Bandyopadhay 36, Malay Goswami 37, Adhirkrishna Mondal 39

Satyapriya Mukhopadhayaya 40, Sudeb Bakshi 41, Samaresh Mondal 42, Suman Gun 44, Subroto Paul 45
Bijay Singh 46, Alok Biswas 47, Sudeb Bandyopadhayaya 48, Nilima Saha 50, Gautam Hensh 52

Santosh Sinha 54, Nityananda Ghosh 55, Anjali Das 56, Sayed Kawsar Jamal 58, Chaitali Chattopadhayaya 59
Ishita Bhaduri 60, Debjani Basu 61, Adip Ghosh 62, Prasanta Malla 63, Sibashis Mukhopadhay 65, Md. Matiullah 67

Subir Sarkar 68, Dishari Mukhopadhayaya 70, Yashodhara Roychoudhury 71, Rajatkanti Singhachoudhury 72
Debojyoti Roy 73, Agni Roy 75, Goutam Mondal 76, Pradip Chakraborty 77, Ayan Bandyopadhay 79, Afzal Ali 81

Ananya Bandyopadhayaya 82, Kaushik Chakraborty 84, Kaushik Chattopadhayaya 85, Sauvik Roy 87
Subhankar Chattopadhayaya 88, Biplab Gangopadhayaya 90, Sanjay Saha 91, Rajib Pal 92, Animesh Mondal 93

Goutam Saha 94, Kuntal Mondal 95, Chandranath Seth 96, Bhajan Dutta 97, Sushanta Gangopadhayaya 98
Nilanjan Shandilya 100, Pabitra Mondal 102, Ashis Mishra 104, Soumana Dasgupta 105, Jahangir Abedin 106
Abhijit Dutta 107, Avinandan Mukhopadhayaya 108, Tapas Das 110, Arnab Chattopadhayaya 112, Goutam Kulshi 113

Parthajit Chanda 114, Bankim Let 115, Shymal Debnath 116, Amit Saha 117, Sabyasachi Hazra 119
Kaushik Chakraborty 121, Shirshendu Pal 122, Souvik Bandyopadhay 123, Achintya Majee 125, Samyajit Acharya 127

Souvik Guha Sarkar 129, Biswajit 130, Goutam Sarkar 131, Sujal Saha 133, Alaktika Chakraborty 134
Sourav Bardhan 135, Rita Mitra 137, Subrata Nandi 138, Mandira Ghosh 139, Avijit Palchoudhury 141

Phatik Choudhury 142, Shila Biswas 143, Durgadas Midda 144, Pradip Gupta 145, Pinaki Roy 146
Subrata Mitra Rana 148, Tapaja Mitra 149, Abhijit Daskarmakar 150, Sharbani Gupta 152, Piyanki 154
Taniya Banerjee 156, Rajeswari Sarangi 157, Manisha Chakraborty Bandyopadhayaya 159, Ishita Majhi 160
Sandip Bhattacharya 161, Dukkhananda Mondal 163, Shyamali Das 164, Falguni Dey 165, Pritha Chattopadhayaya 167

Rajasree Bandyopadhayaya 169, Ranjana Bhattacharya 170, Rakhi Sardar 171, Amit Chakraborty 173
Dipshikha Chakraborty 175, Sabarna Chattopadhayaya 176, Mamata Bhoumik 178, Soma Mukhopadhayaya 180

Antara Dawn 182, Sriparna Gangopadhayaya 184, Shyamashree Roy Karmakar 185
Madhuchhanda Mitra Ghosh 187, Koustav Roy 189, Sourav Chandra 190, Sangskriti Banerjee 191
Upasana Sarkar 192, Akash Roy 194, Trina Chakraborty 195, Nadira Ahmed 196, Shirsa 197, Supam Roy 198
Sumit Mandol 200, Raj Adhikari 202, Amartya Biswas 203, Pratap Halder 204, Neladri Deb 205

Ujjwal Ghosh 206, Nityananda Dutta 207, Debijyoti Karmakar 208, Arghya Kamal Patra 209
Abir Mukhopadhayaya 211, Debabrata Maity 213, Suddhendu Chakraborty 214, Santosh Chakraborty 215
Haimanti Bandyopadhayaya 216, Soham Chakraborty 217, Prasanta Sarkar 221, Tapobrata Mukhopadhayaya 222

Subadip Sen Sarma 223, Moumita Pal 224

Bangladesh

Rezauddin Stalin 226, Hasan Mahamud 227, Debabrata Das 228, Poheli Dey 230

Indian English Language

Sampurna Chattarji 233, A J Thomas 237, kanjalochan Pathak 241

Gujrati Language

Kamal Vora 243

Malayalam Language

Anita Thampi 250, V M Girija 253, M P Prateesh 257, M R Renukumar 259

Odisha Language

Binapani Debta 262

Hindi Language

Santosh Alex 266, Abhigyat 267, Kunwar Bir Singh Martand 270, Ashok Barma (Hindi & Bengali) 273

Marathi Language

Ganesh Vispute 276, Meghna Bhaskute 279, Ignatius Dias 284

Assamese Language

Bijoy Sankar Barman 287, Sameer Sankar Dutta 289, Kushal Dutta 294, Anubhab Tulshi 296
Ankur Ranjan Phukan 299, Lutfa Hanum Selima Begam 303, Md. Kamaluddin Ahamed 306

Newzeland

Olivia Macassey 309

Spain

Francisco Munoz Soler 312

Pakistan

Sabahuddin Hadzialic 314

Taiwan

Chen Hsiu-chen 316

Italy

Maria Teresa Tedde 319, Anna Ferriero 321

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Bengali Language

¤öìD xyôyîû îy¡†þ †,þ£

¤%ö왨% ô!ÍÔ†þ

‰%îû!Sé xy!ô ö•þyôyîû öìlÄ ¤öìD xyôyîû
îy¡†þ †,þ£Ð
íyô!Sé xy!ô ö•þyôyîû öìlÄ ¤öìD xyôyîû
îy¡†þ †,þ£Ð
ö•þyôyîû lÄ ¥y•þ †þ!îû öy’þü
èþy¡îy¤yëû îÄy†%þ¡ ²Ì¥îû
ö•þyôyîû lyöìô èþy¤y¥z öì¡ ¤öìD xyôyîû
îy¡†þ †,þ£Ð

With Me, the Lad Krishna

Sudhendu Mallick
For you I’m roaming around, with me,
The lad Krishna.
For you I’m stopping, with me,
The lad Krishna.
For you I clasp my hands
In your name I float in the water
The ardent moments of love, with me,
The lad Krishna.

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

10

ôyöìëûîû ô%‡

þ›!îe ô%öì‡yþ›y™Äyëû

ö˜ëûyöì¡ xßË ô%‡– ôyéŸéîû ô%‡ ôöìl¥z þ›öì’þü lyÐ
†þöì•þy Vþ’þü î,!ÜT ~öì¡y öèþöì.‹%þöìîû ß¿,!•þîû ²ÌyhsýîûÐ
’þzkþ•þ æþ¡†þ öl¥z– öˆy¡yöìþ›îû þ›yþ›!’þüG Vþöìîû ly
!îhß,ì•þ ¢Äyôöì¡— Ö™% !lîûhsýîû þ›y•þyîû ôôÅîûÐ

ôy– •%þ!ô ¥y!îûöìëû öˆöìSéy îà˜#‰Å ô%öì‡îû !ô!Séöì¡Ð
ú ö•þy ¤%•þþ›y !¡!¡ ¤%†%þôyîû ¥z¡y!˜– ¤îy¥z
ö†þôl ¤%ß›ÜT ô%‡– ß›ÜT !‹þ¥«ŸŸŸéx„y†þy öël l#öì¡
’þzIμ¡ Ö¼•þy !˜öìëû– ö¤‡yöìl ö•þyôyîû¥z !‹þ¥« ly¥zÐ

öSéöì¡öìî¡y†þyîû Sé!î ôöìl¥z þ›öì’þü ly– •þy¥z •%þ!ô
!lîûy†þyîû ß¿,!•þ ¥óöì¡ ö†þôl ¤¥öì xlyëûyö줜
¥z¡y!˜ ¤%•þþ›y !¡!¡ ¤%†%þôyîû ¢Äyô¡# G îû&!ô
Gîûy ö•þy ~‡lG !‘þ†þ †þíy †þëû– †þ„yöì˜ xyîû ¥yöì¤Ð

ö˜ëûyöì¡ xßË ô%‡– Ö™% öl¥z ö•þyôyîû
ö߬¥y•þÅ ¤%¨îû Sé!îÐ ‹þ•%þ!˜Åöì†þ ô@ÀéŸéx¦þ†þyîûÐ

The Face of My Mother

Pabitra Mukhopadhyay

Innumerous faces on the wall, I don’t even remember my mother’s face.
Many storms blew shattering the weald of memories.
No arrogant milestones are there; even the petals of the rose do not fall
In the outstretched greenery; only the leaves rustle ceaselessly.

O mother, you are lost amidst the too long procession of faces.
Look, Sutapa Lili Sukumar sister Ila, everyone has
How picturesque faces, evident marks – as drawn in the blue
With bright whiteness, only your trace is not there.

I don’t even remember the glimpses of childhood, so you
Have turned into an unembodied memory so simply and effortlessly!
Sister Ila Sutapa Lili Sukumar Shyamali and Rumi
They still speak, cry and laugh.

Innumerous faces on the wall, only except your
Nice affectionate photograph. Submerged gloom reigns all around.

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

11

èþyöì¡y ¡yöìˆÚ

˜#þ›†þ †þîû

!öìîûl†þyþéŸé~îû ˆ¦þôy‡y
!îöìèþyîû ö¤yly!¡ öèþyîû
öîûy˜öìþ›y¥yöìly yl¡yëû
•,þ£yîû ˜%!þ ö‹þy‡
•%þ!ô ~öì¡
xy†þy¢ŸéSéyëûyëûÐ

†þöì•þy%þ†%þéŸé¥zéŸéîy Çþ”
•þî%
þ›¢öìôîû xî=tþl
èþyöì¡y ¡yöìˆÚ
îöì¡yœ

Feels Good?

Dipak Kar
A bemused golden dawn
Amalgamated with the smell of jirencat,
At the sunlit window
The eyes-thirsty
As you came with a shadowy sky.
How much does the moment stay?
Still
The veil of feather
Is good to feel,
Right?

English translation : Haimanti Bandyopadhay & Soham Chakraborty

12

îy!’þü öæþîûy

†þy¡#†,þ£ =¥

x¦þ†þyöìîûîû !èþ•þîû !˜öìëû îy!’þü !æþ!îûÐ
èþëûyî¥ xyöì¡y ‹þyîû!˜†þ
•þyîû¥z ôöì™Ä ö‹þy‡ ö“þöì†þ x¦þ†þyîû ÷•þ!îû †þöìîû !l¥zÐ

ëyîûy !löìöì˜îû lÄ x¦þ†þyîû ÷•þ!îû †þöìîû ölëû
!þ›Séöìlîû !m²Ì¥îû=!¡îû †þíy •þyöì˜îûG
ôöìl xyöì¤Ð

!m²Ì¥öìîûîû xyöì¡yëû ö¤ï¨öìëÅîû †þíy •þyîûyG ~†þ!˜l
î%Vþöì•þ öþ›öìîû!Sé¡Ð
~‡l •þyîûy ö†þ’þz xyöì¡yîû !˜öì†þ •þy†þyöì•þ þ›yöìîû lyÐ

xy!ôG ˜%¥yöì•þ ö‹þy‡ ö“þöì†þ îy!’þü !æþîû!S郃ƒ

Homecoming

Kalikrishna Guha
I return home through the darkness.
Terrible light all around
Amidst it, I create the darkness, covering my eyes.
Those who create darkness for themselves,
They also ruminate
The mid-days, left behind.
One day they also realized the sense of beauty
In the illumination of mid-day.
Now no one of them can look towards light.
I also return home, covering my eyes…

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

13

’þzê¤

ö˜î˜y¤ xy‹þyëÅ

~†þ!˜l ~†þ ë%î•þ# ߺ²À ö˜öì‡ S%éöìþ ~öì¤!Sé¡ xyôyöì†þ !†þS%é î¡yîû öìlÄ
•þyîû ¢îû#öìîû !Sé¡ !¢¥îûl xyîû ö‹þyöì‡ !Sé¡ î¢Åyîû ™yîû– xy!ô •þyîû
!†þS%é¥z î%!Vþ!l •þ‡lÐ ~¥z ö•þy ¤yôylÄ ˆÒ–
~¥z ˆÒ¥z xyôyöì†þ ¤yîûy #îl îöì¡ öëöì•þ ¥öìî
ö†þ’þz ö¢yöìl ö•þy èþyöì¡y¥z– l¥zöì¡ ôyöì‘þéŸé‰yöìþ öëéŸéö†þyöìly ~†þ¡y ¤ôöìëû
~¥z ˆÒ¥z †þîûîÐ îûy‡y¡öì˜îû î¡î ˆyl î„y™öì•þ xyîû @ýÌyôÄ ’þzþ›†þíyîû ôöì™Ä
~¥z ˆÒ¥z ‹þy!¡öìëû ö˜îÐ ö†þyöìly ˆ½þ#îû þ›%†%þîû ö˜‡öì¡ lyô ö˜î ߺöì²Àîû þ›%†%þîûŸŸŸé
ö†þyöìly îy’þzöì¡îû ¢yˆöìîû˜ ¥öìëû lþ›öì˜ ~¥z ˆÒ¥z öˆöìëû öî’þüyî
ˆy¥zöì•þ ˆy¥zöì•þ ˜%éŸé†þ!¢ öîöìëû Vþöìîû þ›’þüöìî xy‘þy– öþ›y’þüy†þy‘þ ¥öìëû ëyöìî ¢îû#îû

Origin

Debdas Acharya
One day after dreaming, a young girl came running to tell me something
With shiver in her body and the sharpness of a spear in her eyes, that time
I realized nothing. This is the little story,
I have to narrate this very story all throughout my life
If somebody listens to it, that’s good, otherwise,

here and there, in any of the solitary moments
I will tell this very story.
I will tell the shepherds to compose songs and in the rural folklores
I will manage with this story only.

Seeing any solemn pond,
I will name it as pool of the dream –
Being a disciple of any Baul, I will keep singing this very story in the suburbs
While singing continuously, I will cough; my body will turn into a burnt wood

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

14

~¥z ö¢yöìly– †þyöìSé ~öì¤y

îy”#îÊ•þ ‹þe«î•þÅ#

~¥z ö¢yöìly– †þyöìSé ~öì¤yÐ
¥yGëûyëû
î†%þ¡ˆ¦þ– ¤¦þÄyëû
‰%ôhsý î†þ ¤y˜y–
l˜#•þ#öìîû xyô¡†þ# ¢y‡yëû
!߬?þ ¤¦þÄyîû ‹þ„y˜ !ßiîû– xþ›¡†þÐ
l˜#éŸé•þîûöìD Ö™% ¤¦þÄyîû ô)SéÅly
~¥z ö¢yöìly– †þyöìSé ~öì¤yÐ
ö†þ’þz ylöìî lyÐ

Listen, Come Closer

Banibrata Chakraborty
Listen, come closer.
Fragrance of the flower Bakul
In the breeze, in the evenings
Sleepy white egrets,
Across the river-bank, on the branches of Myrobalans
The tender evening-moon is still, steadfast.
There are just the evening-jingles on the wavy river
Listen, come closer.
Nobody will know.

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

15

§Ã˜yˆ

†þôöì¡¢ þ›y¡

†þ‡lG ¥y!îûöìëû öˆöì¡ §Ã˜yˆ ö˜öì‡ !‹þöìl !lGÐ
‡y!’þü l˜# ¥y!•þëûy ¤¨#þ› öˆ„öìëûy‡y!¡
•þîûy¥z ‹þ’þüy¥z ‡y˜ ¤î% î”Åy¡#
è%þöì¡ ë!˜ x†þß¿yê ‰îûô%öì‡y lyéŸé¥¥z ll#韟Ÿé
!îKþyþ›öìl lyô !˜G
’þzF‹þ•þy öþ›y¢y†þ !˜G– ˆyeî”Å !˜G
!¡öì‡ !˜G
¡¡yöìþ ôyöìëûîû ‹%þô% xÇþëû ’þY¡ x„y†þy xyöìSé韟Ÿé
ö¡y†þ!þ îy‚¡y îöì¡– îy‚¡y èþy£ìy §Ã˜yˆ •þyîûÐ

The Birthmark

Kamalesh Pal
If I’m ever lost, identify me with the birthmark.
Bay River Hatia Sandip Gneokhali
Lowlands Climb Pit Spectrum of green
Suddenly if I forget all, don’t return home, O mother –
Cast my name in the ads
Mention my height dress, complexion
And write:
In the forehead, mother’s kiss is imprinted as an imperishable wart –
The man speaks Bengali, Bengali language is his birthmark.

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

16

xyôyöì˜îû †þ!Ã

¢Äyô¡†þy!hsý ˜y¢

öë !Sé¡ ‹þ„yöì˜îû ôöì•þy– ‹þ„y˜ •þyöì†þ xÇþ•þ îûyöì‡!lÐ
Ù¢yöìléŸéô¢yöìl •þyöì†þ !lˆ)“þü •þöìsfîû ôöì•þy ‰%!îûöìëûöìSé–
ö‰yîû ôyëûyyöì¡ •þyöì†þ ‹%þ!îöìëû öîûöì‡öìSé ¤yîûyîûy•þœ
•þyîûþ›îû öèþyîûöìî¡y ™#öìîû¤%öìßi
!‹þ!îöìëû ö‡öìëûöìSé •þyîû ôyíyŸŸŸé
xyôîûy lÙ»îû †þ!î– ôy¡y‹þ¨öìlîû ˆöì¦þ
ô%àô%Åà ’%þöìî ëyëû xyôyöì˜îû ¤yôylÄ #îlŸŸŸé
†þ# †þöìîû ylyî ~¥z ²Ì!•þî¦þ# ‹þ„yöì˜îû †þy!¥!lœ
xyôyöì˜îû ‰%ô þ›yëû– ²Ì•þ#öì†þîû x¦þ†þyöìîû ‰l ‰l ¥y¥z Göì‘þ–
xyôyöì˜îû †þ!à ö“þöì†þ îûyöì‡
¢y¡%†þéŸéþ›öìpîû !†þS%é þ›y•þyœ

Our Poetic-birth

Shyamalkanti Das
Who resembled the moon; moon has not kept him unharmed.
Rather haunted him like mystic Tantras in the crematorium grounds,
Dipped him into deep spells all over the night!
Then in the dawn, leisurely,
Chewed his head –
We’re mortal poets, our ordinary lives
Often sink in the fragrance of garland and sandalwood –
How do we convey the story of this distorted moon!
We feel sleepy, we frequently yawn in the darkness of metaphors,
The leaves of nymhaea and lotus
Conceals our poetic-birth!

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

17

¢Äyô¡†þy!hsýîû þ›y‘þ‰îû

¤%™#îû ˜_

ߺöìˆÅîû ˜%ëûyîû ö‰„öì£ì ¢Äyô¡†þy!hsýîû þ›y‘þ‰îûÐ
~‡yöìl Séyöì¨yˆÄ×&!•þ þ›y‘þ ¥ëûÐ xöìhsýîy¤# •þîû&” †þ!îîûy
¢öì·îû ˆ¥l öíöì†þ •%þöì¡ ölëû ~öì†þ†þ Vþ¡†þÐ
¢Äyô¡ !eèþDÐ •þ„yîû ‹%þöì¡ öˆ„yy lëûly!èþîûyô
ôëû)îûéŸéþ›y¡†þ=!¡
öël ¤î ö‹þy‡y ¢· öôöì¤yþ›öìþ!ôëûy öíöì†þ

¤èþÄ•þyîû xyöì¡y !löìëû xyöì¤Ð
xy!ô îÄyÝ!•þ ˆy¥z– ™%öìëûy !˜¥zŸŸŸé
†þ# ’þz§Ã_ x¤y™yîû”œ •þ„yîû î„y†þy ö‹þy‡ †þ!î•þyîû ôöì•þy e)«îû
þ›öì’þü ölëû ¥z!•þ†þíy– ôyl%£ì G þ›Ööì˜îû
¤ôhßì öl•þy¥z†þy[þ– ¡y¡ôy!þ— {£ìÅy†þy•þîû

Ö™% ~†þ ™)•þÅ †þ!î ˜îûy ö‘þöì¡ “%þöì†þ þ›öì’þü !löì£ì™ ¤öì_´GÐ

Shyamalkanti’s Classroom

Sudhir Dutta

Shyamalkanti’s classroom is adjacent to the gate of heaven.
Here Chhandogyashruti is read. Resident young poets
Pluck a few glimpses from the unfathomable depth of words.
Shyamal is triangulated. Sightly peacock-feathers are
Pierced in his hair,
As if the sharp words carry the light of civilization

From Mesopotamia.
I compliment, sing the refrain –
How crazily extraordinary it is! His curved eyes, as cruel as poems,
Read up the fables, all the Netai Massacres of
Man and wild, red soil; just a poet –
Jealous and shrewd – enters, pushing the door, despite of the ban.

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

18

20ö¢ löìèþÁºîû– ¤†þy¡

ëû öˆyߺyô#

~•þ!˜l öì¡ xy!SéÐ xy !˜l xy=öìl †þy%þ†þÐ
þ›y¡öì†þ þ›y¡†þ ¡yöìˆÐ ö¤ xyôyîû ¡y¡l þ›y¡lÐ
~†þ!î¨% ¡ xy!ô •þyöì†þ !îly ß›¢Å †þîûî lyŸŸŸé
ôyíy öë¥z xyöì¤ ö†þyöì¡– ~†þ îLß›öì¢Å löìèþyô%‡
öæþöìþ ¤îÅߺyhsý ¥¥z ¥y’þüþ›„yîûyéŸé¤îÅߺ ’þzî%†þœ

20th November, Morning

Joy Goswami
I’ve been in the water for so long. Let me spend today in the fire.
Feathers touch. That’s my nourishment.
I will not touch even a drop of water without her–
As the head comes in the lap, with a single touch of thunder, sky-mouth
Bursts and makes me, the skinny nitwit, bankrupt!

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

19

xöìßfîû l#îûî•þy

!lôÅ¡ ¥y¡˜yîû

xßf xyôyöì˜îû ߺy™#l•þy !löìëû îà!˜l l#îûî
xöìßfîû l#îûî•þyëû xöìßfîû ˆyöìëû xyôîûy öþ›¡yô ôîûöì‹þ
ôîûöì‹þ þ›’þüy xßf !löìëû xyôîûy ~¥zîyîû ‰y¤ †þy!þŸŸé
‹þöì¡yÐ
‰y¤†þyþy †þöìÁ¿y!þ î¡öìî– xöìßfîû ~G ~†þ !¢Çþy˜yl
xyôyöì˜îû ‰y¤ †þy!þöìëû †þôÅ‘þ †þöìîû
xyôîûyG †%„þöì’þü !Sé¡yô– †þöìôÅ !lë%_« ¥î
ôîûöì‹þ þ›’þüy xßf !löìëû ‰y¤ †þyþöì¡ ö˜öì¢îûG ’þz§¬!•þ
ö˜öì¢îû Oy¡G ¤yæþ ¥ëû

The silence of the Weapons

Nirmal Halder
Weapons are silent so long regarding our independence
Due to this silence, we found rust on them
With the rusty weapons, let’s mow the lawn–
Let’s go.
Mowing the lawn will say, it’s another lesson of the weapons
Making us hard-working by mowing the lawn
We also were idle; we’ll be employed to work
It’s also a betterment for the country if we mow the lawn with rusty weapons
It cleans up the garbage also

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

20

†,þ£‹)þ’þüy

¢‚†þîû ‹þe«î•þÅ#

~†þ¡y •þyöì†þ !î˜yëû ö˜öìîy– ~¥z †þíyþy öèþöìî ö˜!‡ŸŸŸé
öèþöìî ö˜‡öì¡ öë!˜öì†þ ˆySé †,þ£‹)þ’þüy– xy†þy¢ æ%„þöì’þü
|™îÅô%‡#— xyôyîû ¤ôëû ôy‘þ öþ›îû&öìlyîû
¤yîûy#îl– ôyíyëû xyôyîû î,!ÜTîy˜¡

èþyöì. ߺˆÅ ˜%þ›%îûöìî¡yÚ
ö†þ’þz öîyöìVþ ly ö‡¡yîû !lëûô– Ö™% ˜îûy ö‡yöì¡ ~†þy
îy•þy¤ îöì’þüy ~†þ¡y Göì’þü– ˜)öìîû íyöì†þy •%þ!ô G ö¤ŸŸŸé
xyôyîû ¤D# ‹þöì¡y ~îyîû– öë!˜öì†þ ˆySé †,þ£‹)þ’þüyÐ

Krishnachura

Sankar Chakraborty
Will bid her goodbye alone, I consider this thought–
If considered, towards the direction, where the tree Krishnachura,
grows upward
Piercing the sky; I have an entire lifetime
To cross the field, over my head, rainstorm

Does the heaven break down at midday?
Nobody understands the rules of the game, just opens the door alone
Solitary wind blows, you and he stay apart–
O my companion, let’s go now, towards the direction,
where the tree Krishnachura is located.

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

21

¡þ›y¥z†þyöì‘þîû ~¤îûy

ô,˜%¡ ˜y¢=®

ö†þylG!˜l !†þS%é¥z !Sé¡ ly– !†þS%é¥z !†þS%é¥z öl¥z xyôyöì˜îû xy
xyôîûy !†þ îyyî ly ¡þ›y¥z†þyöì‘þîû ~¤îûyÚ
G !†þ æ%þ¡Ú î%öìly æ%þ¡– öˆy¡y!þ› þ›yþ›!’þüôëû ‹þyî%öì†þîû ˜yˆ
xyôîûy !†þ ‹þöì¡ ëyöìîyÚ †þ‡lG ö˜öìîy ly Göì†þ þ›%îû&£ìéŸéþ›îûyˆÚ
xöìl†þ ¡Zþl Göì’þü– ¥yGëûyîy•þyöì¤îû îûy•þ– ö†þ’þz ~¡ xyÚ
îyyöìîy ly xyôyöì˜îû– îyyöìîy ly ¡þ›y¥z†þyöì‘þîû ~¤îûyÚ

Olive-Wooden Esraj

Mridul Dasgupta
Never had we anything, nothing we have today
Shall we not play the olive-wooden Esraj?
Is that a flower? Wild flower, marks of whip all over its pink petals
Shall we leave? Never will we give it male-pollens?
Numerous lanterns fly, windy night, has anyone come today?
Shall we not play, shall not play the olive-wooden Esraj?

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

22

ö¥ öˆy!î¨

îÊ•þ ‹þe«î•þÅ#

xy!ô öˆy!îöì¨îû ö¡y†þ l¥zÐ y!l ly G xyôyöì†þ Gîû !löìîû ö¡y†þ èþyöìî !†þlyÐ ö¥ öˆy!î¨ îûyöì‡y ‹þîûöì” xy!ô †þ‡öìly
ˆy¥z!lÐ †þíy xyôyîû ²Ìyëû ¥ëû ly öˆy!îöì¨îû ¤öìDÐ ˆ¡y GîûG þ›y¥z lyÐ Ö™% ö†þyíyG è%þ¡ †þîûöì¡ ˆ¡y Gîû– öëlÐ ‡%î
¢#•þ ¡yˆ¡ ~†þ!˜lÐ ˆ¡y öˆy!îöì¨îû öël– ëyG ö‡„y ëy ¥y!îûöìëûöìSéyÐ

O Lord Govinda

Brata Chakraborty
I’m not a man of Govinda. I don’t know whether or not he considers me as
his own man. I never sang that O Lord Govinda shelter me under your feet.
I barely speak to Govinda. His voice also doesn’t come. As if, his voice comes
just only if I make any mistake. One day I felt very cold. Govinda’s voice
came As if, go, find out whatever have you lost.

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

23

¢îëyey

!îÙ»öì˜î ô%öì‡yþ›y™Äyëû

¤yîûy îûy•þ ~†þl xyöìSélÐ
x¦þ†þyöìîû ˜„y!’þüöìëû xyöìSélÐ

‹þyîûl îy¥†þ •þ„yöì†þ yöìlÐ
²Ì!•þ!˜l •þ„yîû †þyöìSé xyöìl
‰îû öSéöì’þü öë !ˆöìëûöìSé •þyîû
²Ìþ›öìMéþîû hßì¸þ ¤‚¤yîûÐ

x¦þ†þyöìîû ~†þl xyöìSélÐ
†%þëûy¢yëû ˜„y!’þüöìëû xyöìSélÐ
xyëû•þ !îhß,ì•þ ‹þÇ%þ !˜öìëû
†þy¡e«öìô ölöìîl !æþ!îûöìëû
!•þ!l ¤î ölöìîl !æþ!îûöìëûÐ

The Last Journey

Biswadeb Mukhopadhay
Nightlong someone stays.
In the dark someone stands.
Four pall-bearers know him
Every day they acquiesce to him whim
The one who has left all that was dear
Illusion’s quiet sphere
In the dark someone stays.
In the fog someone stands.
With his piercing. sprawling eyes
In time, he shall take back
Everything he shall take back.

English translation : Prasanta Chakraborty

24

!îîy¥îy!£ìņþ#

¤ô#îû” ö‰y£ì

î#”yîû ¤yôylÄ öSé„yëûy
öèþyîû ¥öìëû öˆ¡ öôöìëû
߬yl ö¤öìîû ~öì¡œ ~‡öìly ß›ÜT ¡!î¨%
ö‡öì•þ ö˜öìîœ î¤öìîy ~‡yöìlœ
¥yöì’þüîû †þBþy¡ öíöì†þ ¤y˜y ¥y•þ ¢)öìlÄ ’þzöì‘þöìSé
yöìly– xyôyîûG þ›öìíîû þ›yöì¢ ‰îû !Séöì¡y– þ›ëŐþl
!Séöì¡y !îîy¥îy!£ìņþ#

Wedding Anniversary

Samiran Ghosh
A little touch of Vina
O girl, it is dawn
Your bath is over! Water droplets are still evident
You’ll serve food! Will sit here!
White hand rose up into void from the bony skeleton
You know, beside the way, I also had my house, journey
Had a wedding anniversary

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

25

x!èþ¢yþ›

x!ô•þyèþ ÷ôe

‘And let me take my first bite directly above your heart’
韟Ÿ David Ignatow

ö˜‡y ¥öìî¥z ~†þ!˜l– xyîû ö¤¥z ‡¤‡ö줖 öîû„yëûy G‘þy ’þy¥z!lîû ô%öì‡ ‰%!¤ ôyîûöì•þ ôyîûöì•þ î¡î韟Ÿéòö•þyôyöì†þ !‹þ!l lyÐ èþyîû#
‹þy˜öìîûîû l#öì‹þ ‰£ìy †þyöì‹þîû ¡Zþl !löìëû †þyöì¡y ˆySé=öì¡yîû xy’þüy¡ öíöì†þ xyôyîû xydÖ!kþîû îû!îîyîû=öì¡y ö†þl lÜT †þîû
•%þ!ôÚó
ö†„þöì‹þyîû ôöì•þy !þ›Sé¡ ö‘þ„yþ xyôyîû ˆyöì¡ S%é„¥zöìëû !¥¤ !¥¤ †þöìîû ö¤¥z ’þy¥z!l •þ‡l î¡öìŸéòö•þyôyîû ™ôÅyhsýîû” ¥¡Ð ~‡l
ö•þyôyîû ô%öì‡ xyôyîû îû_«Ð ö¢yöìly– ¡y¡ í†þíöì†þ ö¤¥z ¡yè)þ!ôîû Gþ›yöìîû ¤y˜y ¥yöì’þüîû e%«¢†þyöì‘þ– xy’þüÜT ¢îû#îû– ~‡l
öíöì†þ V%þöì¡ íy†þöìî •%þ!ôÐó

The Curse

Amitava Maitra
‘And let me take my first bite directly above your heart’

– David Ignatow
Will surely meet one day, and I’ll scream, punching on the rough, furry
face of the harridan – ‘I don’t know you. Why do you spoil my Sundays of
self-purification, under the heavy sheets, hiding behind the dark trees, with
a lantern of opaque glass?’
Then the harridan will hiss, touching her lips – as slippery as an earth-
worm – on my cheeks – ‘You’re converted. Now my blood is on your face.
Listen, from now on, you’ll remain hanging, with your body – benumbed, on
the crosspiece of white bones, on the other side of that glaireous crimson
swamp.’

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

26

²Ì§Ã xhsýîû

²Ì¤)l îöì¨Äyþ›y™Äyëû

xyôyîû öî˜ly‡y!l
öîûöì‡ ëyî
î„y!¢îû öèþ•þöìîû
xöìl†þ }•%þîû ö¢öì£ì
•%þ!ô ~öì¤ •%þöì¡ !löì¡ öîöì ’þz‘þöìî xyl¨ ¡¥îû#
~èþyöìî¥z !‹þîû†þy¡
ô%öìSé ëyöìî ö•þyôyîû xyôyîû
¤ô)¥ ˜)îûc†þíy
¤†þ¡ xhsýîû

Generation Gap

Prasun Bandyopadhyay
I will leave
My agony
Inside the flute
After many seasons
If you come and pick it up, ripples of joy will be ringing
Forever in this way
All the distances between you and me
All our differences
Will be wiping out

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

27

!ô¢öìîûîû ’þyöìëû!îû

¤îĤy‹þ# ö˜î

ôîû&è)þ!ôîû !˜ˆöìhsý ’þzöì‘þ ~¡ ¤)ëÅ
‹þ¡hsý îyöì¤îû î„y!˜öì†þ ²Ìî¥ôyl l#¡ l˜
’þyl!˜öì†þ ôyíyly†þ“þy†þy ~†þ ö²Ìï“þü xyîûî
!“þöìô •þyöì¡ ‹þöì¡öìSé ˆy™yîû !þ›öì‘þ ö‹þöìþ›
îy!¡!“þ!îîû “þy¡ öîöìëû ölöìô xy¤öìSé ~†þþ›y¡ ’þzþ
Sé!îîû þ›îû Sé!î ¤öìîû ëyëû– xyîû ˆöì’þü ö•þyöì¡ xq$•þ ôhsýy

¤ôëû !†þ ~‡yöìl !ßiîûœ ¢•þy·#G ôöìl ¥ëû æ%þê†þyöìîû ’þzöì’þü ëyëû
îûyöìô!¢¤îûy ¥y!îûöìëû öˆöìSé †þöìî– •þî% þ›yíöìîûîû ö˜y†þyöìl
ölæþyîû!•þ!•þîû ô)!•þÅîû ’þzþ›îû V%„þöì†þ þ›’þüy öe«•þyîû !èþ’þü
¤y!îû ¤y!îû ¤ôy!™– ߺy•þsfÄ îyëû öîûöì‡ ˜)öìîû ˜)öìîû Ööìëû íyöì†þ ô!ôîûy
™%öì¡y ¥öìëû öˆöìSé •þyöì˜îû ~†þ˜yéŸé²Ì•þyþ›
¤ôy!™ˆ,öì¥îû ö˜Gëûy¡ xyîû Séyöì˜ xyly !¢Ò#öì˜îû x„y†þy Sé!î
ööìˆ íyöì†þÐ !¢öìÒîû ¤yôöìl l•þyl% ¥öìëû þ›í öSéöì’þü ö˜ëû ô,•%þÄ

The Diary of Egypt

Sabyasachi Deb

The Sun rose up on the horizon of the desert
The Nile is flowing to the left of the running bus
To the right, an aged Arabian, with his face covered,
Is going slowly, riding a donkey
Across the slopes of the sand-dunes, a herd of camels are coming down
Pictures after picture move away, creating a strange panorama

Is the time stopped here! Seems that even centuries blow away
Ramesseses are gone long back, yet in the stone-shops
A crowd of buyers are leaning over the statue of Nefertiti
Numerous rows of tombs, the Mummies lie down – well-distinguished
Their past-glories have turned down into dust
On the walls and the rooftop of the cemetery, the sketches drawn by many unknown artists
Are awake. Death, knelt before the art, makes a way

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

28

²Ì†,þ•þ ˜¢Å†þ

¤%!•þ ¤îû†þyîû

ö•þyôyîû !²Ìëû ˜%¥z ö‡öì¡yëûy’þü
˜%!þ ˜öì¡ ö‡öì¡Ð

xy öl’þz ˜%!þ ˜öì¡îû æþy¥zly¡Ð

xy •%þ!ô ö‡¡y!þîû
²Ì†,þ•þ ˜¢Å†þÐ

True Spectator

Sujit Sarkar
Your two favourite players
play in two different teams.
Today the final match will be played
between these two teams.
Today you will be the true spectator
of this match.

English translation : Author himself

29

¤ôy!™öìÇþöìeîû †%þ¥†þ

îû•þl•þl% ‰yþ#

xy ¤öì¦þöìî¡y xyôyîû ¤ôy!™îû !èþ•þöìîû ~†þþy †%þ¥†þ öîûöì‡ xy¤îÐ
x‚¢•þ öô‰¡y íy†þöìî xy†þy¢ ööìlG ö†þl öël ôöìl ¥öìFSé
xyþ›lyîûy ö˜‡öìîl– !‘þ†þ •þ‡l ~†þæþy!¡ ˜%!lÅîyîû ‹þ„y˜ ’þz‘þöìîÐ
xyˆySéyîû î”Åly !’þüöìëû ö¤ Ööìëû xyöìSé ’þzöìþ›Çþyîû !‹þe†þöìÒ
xyôyîû ö†þylG î¦%þ †þ‡lG ‡%„öìéŸé‡%„öì •þyöì†þ xy!îÜñyîû †þöìîû!l–
ö†þlly xyôyîû ¥yöì•þ xyG ö†þylG Çþô•þyîû !lly˜ öl¥zÐ
ˆ•þ îSéîû ~ôl ô¨éŸéôy‡yöìly !˜öìl ö˜öì‡!Sé¡yô
x•þ xyˆySéy ö‘þöì¡ ¤ôy!™éŸéˆöì•þÅîû ~öì†þîyöìîû ˆy ö‰„öì£ì
~†þþy †þy‘þ‹þ„yþ›yîû ˆySé xly˜öìîû ô%‡ •%þöì¡öìS韟Ÿé
xy •þyîû ²Ì¢y‡yëû †%„þ!’þü æ%þþöì•þ ö˜‡öì•þ þ›yîÚ
~†þ îSéöìîû †þy‘þ‹þ„yþ›yîû ˆyöìSé æ%þ¡ öæþyöìþ !†þÚ xy!ô y!l lyÐ
ë!˜ G¥z ˆyöìSé ~†þþy ‹þ„yþ›y öæþyöìþ xyîû öˆy™)!¡îû ô%öì‡ Vþöìîû þ›öì’þü
xy!ô •þÇ%þ!l “%þöì†þ ëyî xyôyîû ¤ôy!™éŸéˆ¥´öìîûîû ôöì™Äœ
xyþ›lyîûy îûy÷ìl!•þ†þ îlß›!•þîû •þ¡yëû ˆySé !löìëû ë„yîûy þ›’þüyöì¢yly †þöìîûl–
˜ëûy †þöìîû xy xyôyöì†þ ¤öì¦þ lyôyîû xyöìˆ y!löìëû ö˜öìîl ö•þy
~†þîSéöìîû ö†þylG †þy‘þ‹þ„yþ›yîû ˆyöìSé ¤!•þÄ¥z æ%þ¡ öæþyöìþ !†þlyœ

30

Conjuration of the Graveyard

Ratantanu Ghati
Today, in the evening, I’ll leave a conjuration inside my grave.
Inspite of knowing that the sky will be partially overcast, somehow I’m feeling that
At that very moment, an irresistible moon will shine, you’ll see.
It’s lying in the imagery of indifference, entangling the description of the weeds
None of my friends ever found it out,
As I don’t have any peal of the power till now.
Last year, on such a wicked day, I observed that
Pushing the large amount of weeds, adjacent to the grave-hole,
A plant of Kathchanpa grew – neglected –
Today, may I see it budding?
Within a year, does a plant of Kathchanpa blossom? I don’t know.
If at least one single flower blossoms in that plant and falls down on the
outset of dusk
I’ll enter inside my grave, then and there!
Those of you,
Who study about the plants beneath the vegetation of politics,
By today’s evening, please inform me
Whether or not any plant of Kathchanpa really blossoms within a year!

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

31

¤æþ¡ ²Ì!•þîy˜#

²Ìîy¡†%þôyîû î¤%

ˆ¡y ‹þ’þüy¥z!l îöì¡ öèþöìîöìSé xyôyîû ö†þyöìly ²Ì!•þîy˜ öl¥zÐ
!æþ!îûöìëû !löìëûöìSé ô%‡– ~¥z öë ¤öì¦þîû þ›îû μy¡y¥z!l xyöì¡y
¤‚@ýÌöì¥îû ¤î ¥zöìFSé=öì¡y !î!¡öìëû !˜öìëû!Sé
xyþ›y•þ !lîû#¥ ~†þ l˜#îû xy’þüyöì¡ öë ¡%!†þöìëû öæþöì¡!Sé
ë•þ ly ö˜Gëûy †þíy– ˜#‰Å S%é!þîû ˜îû‡yhßì †þöìîû!Sé
†þ‡öìly öèþöìîSé ö†þlÚ ~¥z öë þ›„y‹þ •þ¡yîû ’þzþ›îû ö¥„öìþ ’þz!‘þ
!‘þ†þ ¤ôëû x!æþ¤ öþ›ï„Séî îöì¡ ~†þ%þ xyöìˆ îyîû ¥¥z
l#‹%þ ߺöìîû †þíy î!¡– ¤•þ†þÅ íy!†þ
ëyöì•þ xyôyîû Séyëûy öël Séy!’þüöìëû ly ëyëû xyôyöì†þ
~=öì¡y !†þ ²Ì!•þîy˜ lëûÚ

ˆ¡y ‹þ’þüyöì¡¥z ë!˜ ²Ì!•þîy˜ ¥öìëû öë•þ
•þy¥öì¡ öë ö¡y†þþyöì†þ ö˜!‡ ˆ¡y æþy!þöìëû !ôöìíÄ xyÙ»yöì¤
èþ!îûöìëû !˜öìFSé ¤†þ¡öì†þ
ö¤éŸé¥z ö•þy ¥•þ ¤îöì‹þöìëû ¤æþ¡ ²Ì!•þîy˜#

Successful Defendant

Prabal Kumar Basu

As I didn’t raise my voice, they thought that I had no protest.
Turned their face away, look, I didn’t turned the lights on
After the evening, gave up all my collected desires
Concealed all my unpledged words behind
A seemingly innocent river, applied for a long-leave
Did you ever think why? Look, I walk up to the fourth floor
Start for the office a bit beforehand to reach on time
Speak in a low voice, remain careful so that
My shadow can never be able to exceed myself
Aren’t these protests?

If only raising the voice would have been sufficient
Then the person, whom I see to flood everyone
With false assurances in a loud tone
He would have been the most successful defendant

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

32

xy†þy¡ ‹þ„y˜öì†þ

!•þöì¡y_ôy ô%ô˜yîû

xy†þy¡ ‹þ„y˜öì†þ ¡yöìˆ †þþ†þöìþ ¤y‹þÅ¡y¥zþ– xyîû î,!ÜTöì†þ !îþ›%¡ îlÄyîû £ì’þüësfÐ öèþyîûöìî¡y þ›y!‡îû ’þyöì†þ ‰%ô èþy.öì¡
ôöìl ¥ëûŸŸŸé~öì˜îû !†þ xyîû †þy öl¥z ¤‚¤yöìîû– ö‹„þ!‹þöìëû xöìlÄîû ‰%ô èþy.yöìly Séy’þüyÚ æ%þöì¡îû îyyöìîû þ›y îûy‡öì¡¥z èþÄyþ›¤y
ˆöì¦þ ˆy =!¡öìëû Göì‘þÐ æ%þ¡ ¤yyîyîû lÄy†þy!ô Séy’þüy¥z !˜!îÄ ö†þöìþ ëyöìFSé !˜lœ •þî% ö˜öì‡y– !†þS%é x†þôÅ”Ä öîûy ˆyl
î„y™öìSé xyîû ˆy¥zöìSéÐ !†þS%é x¡¤ !lÜñÁ¿y •þy¡ ‘%þöì†þ •þy ÖlöìSéÐ
þ›%îûöìly î¦%þîû ¤öìD ¤yÇþyê ¥öì¡¥z ’þzFS´éy¤ ö˜‡yöì•þ ¥öìî ö†þlŸŸŸ•þyîûG ö†þylG xíÅ þ›y¥z lyÐ !¢Ö xyîû î,kþîûy ö•þy
¤îöì‹þöìëû ߺyíÅþ›îûœ
~¥z ö•þy ö¤!˜l ß%ñöì¡ öë•þyôÐ ~¥z ö•þyÐ †þöìîÚ †þ•þ!˜lÚ !¥öì¤î †þîûöì¡ ôöìl ¥ëû ‡%î !¢ˆ!ˆîû ôöìîû ëyîÐ
~†þþy öSéyR %þ¤!†þîû ôöì•þy §Ã xyîû ô,•%þăƒƒ
G ‹þ„y˜ î,!ÜT æ%þ¡ þ›y!‡ !¢Ö ˆyl ~î‚ î,kþîûy
xyôyîû ²Ìyöì”îû î¦%þîûy
ö•þyôîûy ~èþyöìî xyôyöì†þ ö’þöì†þy ly

33

The Moon, Nowadays

Tilottama Majumdar
Nowadays the moon seems to be a luminous searchlight, and the rain seems
to be the conspiracy of a huge flood. In the dawn, while waking up at the
call of the birds, I wonder why they don’t have anything else to do in this
world except waking others up with their shout. As soon as I enter the
flower-market, I feel vomiting because of the foul and claustrophobic smell.
I am spending my days comfortably without the silliness of decorating
flowers. But look, some worthless people are composing songs and singing.
Some idle gremlins are listening to them, giving beats to the rhythm.
I don’t understand why I should exhibit excitement while meeting an old
friend. The children and the elderly persons are the most selfish ones!
Just a few days before, I used to go to school. Just a few days. When? How
long? If I count, I feel that I will die very soon.
Birth and death are like a little flip…
O the moon the rain the flowers the birds the children the songs and the
aged ones
My sworn friends
Don’t call me like this

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

34

!¢†þ’þü

!îèþy¤ îûyëûöì‹þï™%îû#

ôîûöì•þ ôîûöì•þ xyîûG ôîûîyîû
ôöì•þy

V%„þöì†þ þ›’þüöì•þ¥z ‡y
˜œ

¤yîûyîûy•þ ™öìîû !lôÅô ôyöìîû
‹þ„y˜ƒƒƒ

•%þ!ô !Séöì¡ Ö™%
xyîûG
öî!¢
!lÅlÐ

Roots

Bibhas Roychowdhury

If I lean down just like
Dying a bit more within the series of deaths

It’s a p
i
t!

All through the night the moon
Assassinates me ruthlessly…

Only you were Even
More

Lonely.

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

35

›y‘þ†þ

ö¥ôhsý îöì¨Äyþ›y™Äyëû

@ýÌsiˆèþ#öìîû
‰%!ôöìëû îûöìëûöìSé
ö¡‡öì†þîû ôlÐ

xÇþîû ‡%öì¡
y!ˆöìëûSé •%þ!ô
ö¤¥z !lÅlÐ

The Reader

Hemanta Bandyopadhyay

Deep in the book
Has slumbered
The writer’s mind.
Unveiling the letter
You have aroused
That silence.

English translation : Author himself

36

™#öìîû ™#öìîû

ô¡ëû öˆyߺyô#

‰!þþy ¤!îûöìëû •%þ!ô xyôyëû !öìˆÄ¢ †þîûöì¡
ò#îl ôyöìl †þ#Úó

ö‡y¡y ˜îûy !˜öìëû “%þöì†þ ~öì¡y †þyöìîûyîû !lÙ»y¤ƒƒƒ
xy!ô •þ‡l öôy‹þyîû ö‡y¡y ‡%¡!SéÐ
~†þþy ~†þþy †þöìîû !¢îû •%þöì¡ öæþöì¡ !˜!FSé îy¥zöìîûÐ
•þî% •%þ!ô †þíy îöì¡ ëyFSéÐ
¤†þy¡ ~îyîû •þyîû ²Ì!•þ!l!™ þ›y!‘þöìëû ‹þöì¡ ëyöìî

þ›öìîûîû !˜l xy¤öìî îöì¡Ð
î¡Sé– òîöì¡y ly– #îl ôyöìl †þ#Úó
xy!ô •þ‡lG ~†þôöìl öôy‹þyîû ö‡y¡y ‡%öì¡ ‹þöì¡!S郃ƒ
†þ•þ ölïöì†þyƒƒƒ Gîûy öèþöì¤ ëyöìî ~†þ!˜lƒƒƒ
xy!ô ô%‹þ!†þ ö¥ö줖 ’þyl¥yöì•þîû ’þzöìΐþy!þ›‘þ !˜öìëû
†þþ›yöì¡îû ‰yôéŸé¡yˆy ‹%þ¡ ¤!îûöìëû !l¡yô
S%éôS%éô †þöìîû ’þz‘þöì¡y ölyëûy xyîû ¢„y‡yÐ
•%þ!ô ~†þþy @Õy¤ ¤!îûöìëû îûy‡öì•þ îûy‡öì•þ î¡öì¡–

òîöì¡yly #îl ôyöìl †þ#Úó
xy!ô •þ‡l xyîû ~†þþy öôy‹þyîû ö‡y¡y ‡%¡!Sé
™#öìîû ™#öìîû öôy‹þyþy öSéyþ ¥öìëû xy¤öìS郃ƒ

37

Little by Little

Malay Goswami
‘what does life mean?’
Wondering you asked as you

replaced the water-vessel.
And through the door aJar, an unknown breath flickered...
was then pecling the ‘mocha’
and reJecting the Strings one by one...
you noticed me, trying to relate...
Gently, the morning will shrink
and send back it’s replacement to atteneed
the next day.
you still linger, ‘Won’t you say,

‘what does life mean?’
I was busy peeling the ‘mocha’...
Wondering at the boats heap up to

Wade away someday...
Simpering, I shelved the Sweaty locks with the

back of my plam from forehead and
the bangles chimed.

Altering a glass, you ask, ‘what does life mean, wont you tell?’
| began to peel another ‘mocha’
And it was getting smaller bit by bit...

English translation : Tamal Bandyopadhyay

38

†þ!î

x™#îû†,þ£ ô[þ¡

†þ!î ¥öì•þ öˆöì¡ †þ# ¡yöìˆéŸŸŸé
!†þS%é î”Åöì¡y†þ– ¢öì·îû Gô xyîû îyöì†þÄîû !¤„!’þü èþy.yÐ
xyöì¡yîû ¢îû#öìîû •þyöìþ›îû xl%•þyþ›
öì¡îû ˆèþ#öìîû ¤y•þyîû& #îl
îy•þyöì¤îû ¥zíyöìîû ô,˜% þ›y•þyîû x!èþô%‡
ôy!þîû î%öì†þîû lîûô ôôÅyíÅ
yl¡yëû xöìþ›Çþôyl ~†þ ²Ì!•þߺîû

ôyl%öì£ìîû ¥*˜öìëûîû †þ•þ îy¡†þߺèþyî
öæþyöìl î¡yîû ¤î öˆyþ›l !¤‚¥myîû
xl¡y¥zl ¡yöìˆ þ›,!íî#îû ôylî#îû lÄ
~èþyöìî xyöìîûy †þ•þ !†þS%é ¡yöìˆÐ
†þ!îîû ö•þôl öþ›y£ìy†þ öl¥z ëy !˜öìëû •þyöì†þ ö‹þly ëyëûÐ

A Poet

Adhir Krishna Mondal

What are needed in being a poet...
Some letter-domain,
warmth of words and steps of sentences to be crossed over.
Remorse in the self of light
The Swimmer’s life in the depth of water
Orientation of silent leaf in the ether of wind
Soft morals of the desire of earth
An echo waiting in the window

The intent of a boy in the heart of man
All arch-doors concealed while speaking over phone
Being on-line for a woman on earth
So many more required.
No that dress by which the poet can be known.

English translation : Pabitra Mandal

39

~öì†þ¥z #îl îöì¡ ôy!l

¤•þÄ!²Ìëû ô%öì‡yþ›y™Äyëû

xy¤öì¡ Öîû&îû ö†þyöìly Öîû& öl¥z
¤ôy!®îûG öl¥z ö†þöìly ö¢£ì
ôyöìVþ ~†þ ößËy•þî•þ# l˜#
’þzyl# ößËyöì•þîû ôöì•þy ~„öì†þ öî„öì†þ ‹þöì¡öìSé #îl
~öì†þ¥z ¤•þÄ îöì¡ ôy!l
!†þS%é !†þS%é ²Ì•þÄy‡Äyl ô¥ê ôD¡ ö’þöì†þ xyöìl
¤yˆöìîûîû ²Ì•þÄy‡Äyöìl ¡ ¥ëû öô‰
xy†þyöì¢îû ²Ì•þÄy‡Äyöìl öô‰ öæþîû î,!ÜT ¥öìëû lyöìô
¡ ¥ëû l˜#
ö•þyôyîû ~ ²Ì•þÄy‡Äyöìl þ›%ÜT ¥ëû xyôyîû !î†þy¢
xyôyîû x÷ìî™ ö²Ìô e«ô¢ ²Ì†þy¢ ‡%„öì
¥‘þyê þ›!îe ¥öìëû Göì‘þ
~öì†þ¥z #îl îöì¡ ôy!l

The Life

Satyapriya Mukhopadhyay

Indeed beginnings have no beginning
neither endings have an end
ln the middle is the current of a river
Flowing downstream in twists and turns
ls what we call life
Some rejections rain down as greater boons
Ocean’s rejection make cloud from water
Sky’s rejection rain down from clouds
as water forms river
Your rejection blossoms my nourishments
Thus my illicit love gradually grows
becomes sacred all at once
This is what we call life

English translation : Soumo Ghoshal

40

!löì£ì†þ

¤%öì˜î î†þä¤#

G¥z ¤hsýyl韟Ÿé
xyôyîû ²Ì˜#þ› îöìëû ëyëû

’þz_îûy!™†þyöìîûîû }” öl¥z
î¤hsý öèþöì¤ ëyëû

ˆyöìSé ˆyöìSé öîûyôyMéþô%†%þ¡
†%þëûy¢y !¤îû!¤îû

!îî¢ ¥yGëûyëû– þ›í韟Ÿé
™%öì¡y ’þzöì’þü ëyëû

î¦þÄy‹þ¡éŸŸŸé
Vþ„y!þ›öìëû þ›öì’þüöìSé öì§Ãîû ¤î ˜yëûœ

Fertilization

Sudeb Bakshi
That offspring–

Carries my lamp
Without any debt of inheritance

Flows the spring away
Thrilled buds in the trees

The fog shivers
In the benumbed wind, the path–

Floats the dust
Infertility–

All the liabilities of birth have jumped upon!

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

41

¤†þ¡ ˜îûyîû !˜öì†þ •þy!†þöìëû

¤ôöìîû¢ ô[þ¡

¤½þyîÄ ¤†þ¡ ˜îûy ‡%öì¡ îûy!‡
•%þ!ôG ‡%¡öìî !†þ ‡%¡öìî ly èþyîöì•þ èþyîöì•þ
xyöì¡y öô¢yG îûöì_«– ôy‡yG ¤%îû!èþÐ
!löì ö•þy ööìˆ Göì‘þy– yˆyG ˜)îû öíöì†þ
~†þ xyöì¡y†þ!þ›þ›y¤%– öl¢yîûéŸéîû_« öyˆyöìly
!lÅl ¥yGëûyöì†þÐ •%þ!ô †þ# èþyöìîy–†þ# öô¢yG–
ö†þyl þ›kþ!•þöì•þ xÇþîû x„yöì†þy– ¤yyG
!‹þ!e•þ ¢öì·îû ‹þyîûþ›y¢ xy¡öì•þy xy.%öì¡– ~„öì†þ
öë‡yöìl Sé!îîû ôöì•þy– ~†þ!þ xöì™Å†þ xyöìþ›¡
x„y†þy ëyöìî– !þ›‘þ G ‹%þöì¡îû ôyöìVþîû !l/Ù»y¤öìÇþöìeÐ
öë‡yöìl Sé!îîû ôöì•þy x„y†þy ëyöìî xÇþîû=öì¡y
~†þ!þ xöìíÅîû !èþ•þîû îöì¤ ëyöìî ‡yöìþ› ‡yöìþ›
xöìl†þ =öì¡y xíÅ– ‹%þöì¡îû öìþîû ôöì•þy ~†þ!þ ~†þ!þ
†þöìîû ‡%öì¡ ölöìî ô™%îû !þ›þ›y¤y
²Ìˆy“þü ˜,!ÜT öôöì¡ !æþöìîû •þy†þyöì¡ î%öì†þîû !èþ•þîû
è)þ!ô†þÁ› ¥öìîÐ ¤,!ÜTîû ¤ôhßì ™çöì¤ þ›’þüöìî
x!@À†%þöì[þîû Séy¥zР߬yl ö¤öìîû ë‡l !æþöìîû xy¤öìîy
‡%„öì þ›yöìî öëïîöìl x!èþ!£ì_« !lôÅ¡ îy¡†þöì†þ–
îy¡†þöì†þ •%þ!ô †þ# ö˜öìî– †þ#èþyöìî •%þöì¡ ölöìî î%öì†þîû †þyöìSé
~†þ%þ ²ÌÝ!•þ ö¤öìîû îûyöì‡y ¤½þyîÄ ¤†þ¡ ˜îûyîû !˜öì†þ •þy!†þöìëûÐ

42

Looking at all the doors

Samaresh Mondal
I keep all the possible doors open. I wonder if you will open it or not, mix
light with blood, apply fragrance.
Wake up by yourself wake up me also from a distance, one is light-hungry
intoxicated- blood- supplying in the lonely air.
What do you think, what do you mix, draw and arrange the letters in any
way ,gently finger around the illustrated word, drawing .
where as in the picture a half Apple can be drawn. in the breathing area
between the back and hair.
Like a picture,it can fit inside a meaning within a lot of meaning like a
tangled hair, sweet thirst will be opened.
When I looked back with a keen eye it was inside my chest, there would
be an earthquake, all creation would collapse, the ashes of the fireplaces.
I will come back after bathing and will find a pure boy anointed in his
youth. What will you give the boy, how will you take him to the chest.
Make a little preparation by looking at all the possible doors.

English translation : Author himself

43

‹þ!îû•þyíÅ

¤%ôl =”

3
~†þ!þ !l!Ù‹þhsý ‡yô þ›öì’þü xyöìSé ¤yôylÄ öþ!îöì¡Ð
!†þlyöìîû ö¤y¥yˆ!‹þ¥«– xþ›îûy™ !m™yëû ô%!o•þÐ
!lSé†þ öþ!îöì¡– ¢yhsý– þ›öì’þü xyöìSé ²Ì!•þöìîûy™¥#l
~†þ!þ !lþ›%”– ¡y¡ ‡yô

4
þ›yöì¢îû îy!’þüöì•þ íy†þ– ’þzöì‘þyöìl G ö‡y¡y
†þ¡•þ¡yëû ö˜‡öì•þ þ›y¥z ly¥z!þ =!þöìëû îöì¤ †þyþ›’þü †þy‹þSé–
‹%þ¡ ‹%þöì’þüy †þöìîû î„y™y– ˜%þ›%öìîûîû
²Ì!•þ!e«ëûy¥#l öîûyöì˜ öôöì¡ !˜FSé ¢yhsý G !l!Ù‹þhsý
‹%þ!’þü˜yîû– ¢y!’þü G G’þüly

Satisfaction

Suman Gun
3
An unworried envelop is lying on a scant table.
Mark of affection at its edge, offence printed hesitantly.
On a mere table, a crafty, red envelop
Is lying calmly, unresisting
4
You stay next door, at times in the yard and in the exposed
Washroom, I see you washing clothes, with your nightie rolled up
Hair braided, in the irresponsive sunlight of midday
You are hanging the quiet and unperturbed
Churidars, Sarees and Ornas (womanly dresses)

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

44

!lîÅy¤

¤%îÊ•þ þ›y¡

xy†þy¢ ö•þôl¥z l#¡– •þî% ö¤ ö•þy xyÙ‹þëÅ xy’þüy¡
‡%öì¡ •þyöì†þ þ›y‘þ †þ!îû

ö¤ xÇþîûKþyl xyG ö•þy ¥¡ ly
˜%îû*¥ l˜#!þ öþ›öìîûyöìly öˆ¡ ly 韟é
lyîû#– l˜#– xy†þyöì¢îûy ¤ôéŸéxhsýîûy¡Ð
†þ•þîyîû þ›îûy ¥¡– ö‡y¡y ¥¡– ö‡y¡yéŸéþ›îûy韟é
Vþ¡ôöì¡ #îöìlîû !²Ìëû î#îûéŸéîy¤
‰îû !†þ ö†þyíyG xyöìSéÚ ö†þyöìly ôöìlÚ
þ›,!íî# !lîÅy¤Ð

Uninhabited

Subroto Paul
The sky is similarly blue, albeit a strangely covert
Opening to read it

The alphabet’s not learned as yet
The abstruse river’s never crossed –
The woman, the river, the sky – are swathed alike.
How many times must one cover, uncover, uncover-cover –
Cherished dwelling-splendour of dazzling life
Is there anywhere a room? In one’s mind?
The earth being uninhabited

English translation : Anup Sengupta

45

!îëû !¤‚¥

~!þ›þyæþ

!îöì†þöì¡îû ²Ìíô lÇþe †þöì•þy†þy¡
ö•þyôyîû¥z lÄ Ö™% ö†„þöì˜!Sé¡

~†þ!þ öô‰¡y ¢yþÅ–

~†þ‡[þ ¤yôylÄ îû&ôy¡ƒƒƒ

‹þyGëûy

ô%öì‘þyëû ™öìîû!Sé ˜%ó!þ ’þz•þöìîûy¡ ‹þyGëûy
xyîû
îy%î¦þ ‡%¡% ‡%¡% ëyëû

Bijoy Singha

Epitaph

For how long the first star of the afternoon
Cried just for you

One overcast shirt,

One mere piece of handkerchief…

The Wishes

I’ve held two restless wishes in my fists

And

The braces started opening up

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

46

‰%ô

xöì¡y†þ !îÙ»y¤

öîûy˜ ~öì¤ îöì¡ öˆ¡– ëy !†þS%é †þy xyöìSé– ~öìî¡y
ö¤öìîû öæþöì¡yÐ Göìî¡y ²Ì‹%þîû î,!ÜTþ›yöì•þ ˜%¥zéŸé•,þ•þ#ëûy‚¢ ¤!e«ëû•þy
†þy˜yôëû ¥öìëû öëöì•þ þ›yöìîûÐ öîûy˜ ~öì¤ îöì¡ öˆ¡– !þ›þ›y¤yöì†þ
ôëÅy˜y !˜öìëû ~öìî¡yöì•þ¥z ëöì•þy þ›yöìîûy ˆyl !¡öì‡ öæþöì¡yÐ
Göìî¡y ¤î †þyˆ !èþöì !ˆöìëû èþ#îû& ¥öìëû öëöì•þ þ›yöìîûÐ
xyöìþ›¡ öë ’þzÍÔyöì¤ ’þy†þöìSé ~‡l– •þyöì•þ ˜%þ›%öìîûîû öôl%öì•þ
îy¤ô!•þ èþy•þ ~†þ%þ †þô þ›öì’þü öˆöì¡G ö‹þyöì‡ ¡yˆöìî lyÐ
x„y‹þ ’þz‘þöìSé ˆlˆ!löìëû– •þyîû ôyöìl ô%Ö!îûîû ’þy¡ ˜yîû&” ö¤kþ ¥öìîÐ
ˆÒ xyîû ö¢£ì ¥öìî ly ô¢¡y˜yîû ôy‚öì¤îû öVþy¡ !˜öìëû
ô%öì‘þyèþ!•þÅ èþy•þ ö‡öì•þ ö‡öì•þÐ !†þv– ëyöì˜îû lÄ öôîû&l
öîûy˜ ’þz‘þöì¡y– •þyîûy ~‡l ‰%!ôöìëû þ›öì’þüöìSé öèþy ôy!þöì•þÐ
öîûyöì˜îû lÄ •þyöì˜îû xyîû ö†þyöìly îyëûly öl¥zÐ †þöìëû†þ !ôþyîû
ôy!þîû !löì‹þ †þyöì¡y xíÅ¥#l•þyëû ˜¡y þ›y!†þöìëû
xq$•þ xylöì¨ ‰%!ôöìëû öˆöìSé •þyîûyƒƒƒ

The Sleep

Alok Biswas

The sun came ‘n said– whatever feats to accomplish– do it at this hour. The
afternoon as forecasting huge rainfall may cause two, third activity turn
muddy. The sun having appeared asked to write as many songs as possible at
this due hour honouring the thirsts. In the hours that follow– all the papers
may get soaked and much of them turn dismayed. Right now the apples are
calling gleefully. Even if a shortage is found in Basmati rice– nothing would
seem bothering in our eyes. The oven, fire blazing high– signifies the red
lentils will boil nicely. The chat will never end while having handful of rice
with spiced chicken froth. But– the comrades– for whom the reddish purple
sun has appeared– have already drowsed off to the rain soaked earth. They
have no whinning pledge for the sun any more. They are now enmassed in
hibernation under the black earth meters down meaninglessly with strange
pleasure.

English translation : Author himself

47

•%þ!ôG xyôyîû öìlÄ ‹þy¥zöì¡

¤%öì˜î îöì¨Äyþ›y™Äyëû

¤ôëû !î˜%Äêß›,ÜT ¥öìëû ‹þöì¡ ëyëû xhsýîûyöì¡
ö¡y†þ#îöìl o&•þ ölöìô xyöì¤
ö¡‡yöìy‡yîû þ›îûô ¼y!hsý!î¡y¤
ö¤!˜l x!îîû•þ ¥y¥y†þyöìîûîû öèþ•þîû ‰öìþ!Sé¡
!l˜yîû&” îû_«Çþîû”
ö¤!˜l !l/¢öì· ö‡¡y †þöìîûöìSé
xßË ¢öì·îû ¼*”
ôyöìl xþ›ôyöìl ²Ìyöì” G xydyëû
•%þ!ô ö•þy ö†þyöìly!˜l ‹þyG!l
xyôyîû îû‹þlyî¡#îû ’þzê¤ ¤%‡
!lîûhsýîû ö‹þöìëû ö‹þöìëû öíöì†þ Göì˜îû îy •þyöì˜îû¥z ôöì•þy
•%þ!ôG xyôyîû öìlÄ ‹þy¥zöì¡
¤Á›§¬ öˆîûöìhßìîû ôô•þyîû ôöì•þy
¤%‡# ¢yhsý !ßiîû #îöìl
x!hsýô ö¥ôöìhsýîû ~†þ Vþ¡†þ
ö¤yly!¡ ’þzIμ¡ ˜%þ›%îû

48

And You Asked for Me

Sudeb Bandopadhyay
A thunder-struck time hides
And befalls faster upon the lives
As delusional lines on the pages
It profusely bled over the lamentation
It infested the souls of the words
At its valor, shame, and ego
Never you tried to learn
The spring of my words
With infinite stares to them, or just like them
You asked for me
Like the peace of adobe
In a happy, calm life
An October rain
A golden, balmy afternoon

English translation : Soham Chakraborty

49

!îöì†þöì¡îû ô%‡

l#!¡ôy ¤y¥y

‹þyéŸé†þyöìþ›îû l,•þÄîû•þy ö™„yëûyëû xöìþ›Çþy ~†þîyîû ö˜öì‡ !l¡ !îöì†þöì¡îû ô%‡éŸŸŸé
þ›%lîûy™%!l†þ ¢·ô%†%þöìîû !îö좣ì ö†þyöìly !‹þö쥫 ~îyîû xyuþyîû¡y¥zuþ– †þÄylèþyöì¤ x!•þîyhßìöìîîû
ö˜¢éŸŸŸé!îþ›%¡ •þîûD S%é„öìëû þ›)îÅyþ›îû– ‰)!”ōöì¡
þ›y¡öìSé„’þüy ölïöì†þy韟Ÿéö˜y˜%¡ #îl Ölöì•þ þ›yöìFSé þy ôëû¡yîû þ›y¢ †þy!þöìëû îy!¡ !îÊöìîû !löì‹þ
x!‹þl ¢öì·îû ¡²Ìþ›y•þƒƒƒ ’þzþ›¥yöìîûîû þ›y¥yöì’þü
yˆ!•þ†þ ësf”yéŸéxyl¨ ë•þ– •þyîû †þyöìSé¥z l•þyl% #îöìlîû xôîûöìcîû ߺ²À ö˜‡yîû ¤y™ G ¤y™Ä韟Ÿé
†þîûþ›%öìþ ™%öìëû ëyöìFSé e«ô¢
#îl yöìl §Ã ô,•%þÄöì†þ韟ŸéôyöìVþîû !¤„!’þüëyþ›öìl ö•þyôyîû– xyôyîû %þ†þöìîûy %þ†þöìîûy öþþ› öîû†þ’þŃƒƒ
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