Saturday, April 4, 2020

The Lantern of the Dark Highway (a Translation)


এন্ধাৰ বাটৰ এগছি পোহৰ । অবনী চক্রবর্তী 

He leaves home at dusk.
In search for some light, he’d said.
His nana stood there
In the dark corridor of their home
Awaiting his return.
Burning the wick of her hope,
She stood still in that dark corridor.

When the boy did not show up
She pulled her stiff body
To go knocking on doors; familiar, unfamiliar.
Her despair stricken bones crackled, and 
Her hollowed eyes gleamed
When she heard of other neightbourhood boys;
Ratul, Putul, Joduram, Bapuram
All set on their voyage;
In quest for the light.
Punakon, in his search for light, they say
Has turned into lantern in the dark highway.

Old nana saw a sky covered in an apron of stars.

She fills her basket with herbs she’d picked from her kitchen garden
As she hears them sing the song of their return.




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