-Jibanananda Das :
For a thousand years I have been walking upon the bosom of my earth
From Ceylon Ocean to a darkling night falling upon the sea of Malaya
So much I’ve travelled!
Into the dusky world of Bimbishar Asoka,
I was there!
Farther inside into that very darkness of city Bidarbha
I am a tired soul
Everywhere the oceanic foams of life throbbing
for just only a while I was blessed with some peace
At last!
From her! She, Banalata Sen of Natore.
Her hairs like an ancient dark night fallen on Bidisha,
Face truly sculpted in vigor of Srabasti;
Far inside an ocean,
when a ship wrecked sailor had lost his vision
All on a sudden as he discovered a grass green
Inside an island cinnamon
Like that only I have seen her in darkness!
Quipped she, “Where have you been for so long? “
Her eyelids like a bird’s nest, had opened
She, Banalata Sen of Natore.
When a day ends in wholeness, evening descends like a dew’s whisper;
Falcon wipes out the smell of sunshine from his wings;
When all colors fade away from the face of this earth,
records of life start unfolding;
From inside a fabric of stories to the twinkling of fireflies
all birds return to nests – all rivers – come to an end all trades of life;
Only darkness now prevails and sitting face to face with Banalata Sen.
Translated by Shamik Kumar Bose
