Arunava Raha Ray, Bengali poems, Translated by Pratyush Karmakar

 

At Jorasanko with Snija

I ran out of poems

But a few of the songs of you came flipping their wings all the way to me,

I ask my writings to get drenched in soothing water,

I assure them that there is nothing that can be better

My dearest,I give you the name 'Snija'

I shall call you lovingly by this name from this very moment 

I shall drape your love all over my new born poems

During the rainy season the blow came from far away America...

Forget it, I thought with a sigh;

My dear, come, let's take a stroll at Jorasanko, together you and I

Goddess

For long I had been walking on a rope 

Albeit it was tough

But I travelled a fruitful distance no doubt 

Where I finally stopped is called earth

Some unknown artist meticulously made you with this very earth

I place poems in your ten palms instead of brutal weapons,

But you fling all the poems unto the unknown;

After some moments of loathsome disgust

The poems will become burning stars

Myth

If you really hurt me I shall not hesitate to go away

And lean against the dejected sky

Why are you so silent yet unfathomable ?

You are like a drop of water on the floor

Today I retrieved this drop of water from the River Jalangi 

While still leaning against the sky I shall certainly make you understand-

That you are water

I shall, one day, like the fabled crow, bring you up from the depth of the earthen pitcher by putting stone chips one after the other until I can touch you. 

You are water

Silent Belle

The colour of your disregard is like that of the dusk in flight

Which hides itself on the back of the moon

Sleepy eyelids are like weary rivulet which wash away all the light within

You come hurriedly to the office gate,

And lo! There drips down your body a lightning divine

Translated by Pratyush Karmakar