Translations

Today I stand as a soldier on the frontier Crossing many a bloodied path Today I have come to a halt- At my homeland’s border. From the greys of Tunisia to the pleasant Italy, From pleasant Italy, we charged towards the rebellious France Like fate,controlled by the stars We were unbeatable, with the invincible rifles in our hands; -From France to even our neighbour, Burma. Today my body wears the stern uniform of a soldier, My hand still holds the rifle, invincible, Through my blood flows the ripples of triumph And of vanity that shadows power, a burden too heavy, Now, I am another sentry on the border.                                                          ...

For a thousand years I am walking the same roads as the Earth, From the seas of Ceylon to Malayan waters, dark as the night Much I have roamed about; in the grey worlds of Bimbisara, Ashoka There I stayed; in the city of Vidarbha which was more afar in the dark; A tired soul, amidst the frothy ocean of life I am again, Gave me peace for moments, the one from Natore 1 , the only Banalata Sen. Her hair was as the dark nights in Vidisha of the era bygone; Her face was the workmanship of Shravasti; after crossing the seas Like the sailor with a broken helm, who is lost for long When sees the green scape in the cinnamon islands, comes at ease So I have seen her in the dark, she said, ‘Where were you so long?’ at the door Looking up with the eyes like the nest of bird, Banalata Sen, of Natore. At the end of all that the day was, like the sound of dew The evening sets in; the kite rubs off the smell of sun from its wing; When all colours ...