Aritra Chakrabarti

Joto shob unnoti aar unnoyoner gaan Geye joy korlay koto praan. Maanush jeno khelar putul- Tomar gaane ullashe shob uthlo neche. Boshalo tomay desher shinhashone. Buke tader hajar hajar asha- Notun raja korbe tader bhalo, Palte debe durnitir rajniti, Bodle debe manush marar khela, Notun raja shobar upor boshe Puron korbe jonogoner shopner mela. Haay re boka chhele! Haay re boka buro! Kobe je tui boro hobi bhable laage bhoy… Mitthachari, bhondo koto raja Notun kore korbe hridoy joy? Bishshash korar oitihashik bhool Abar kore boshli morar aage! Khobor-haate prachin baranday Bhiru nojore dourer botgaachta dekhish… Ekhuno ki shikkha hoyni tor? Shishur moto asha kore boshish!

Underneath this stable soil A beast is trapped for years. It moans, it groans, it sighs But nobody hears. One fine evening On my way back home I took an unknown route To hide from the smoke and soot. The countryside was lovely A treat to the eyes. The view was getting better When I heard the sighs. The sun was taking a back-seat, The engine was gathering more heat, The air was rushing past me Suddenly I heard my name. Nobody was around Just trees and the road and me. Who on earth would sigh and call? I pulled over to see. The sigh and the cry got louder As I moved towards the lake. It came from under a tree My name was being called distinctly. I froze for a while As it kept on calling. I asked in a faint voice- “Who are you?” The beast started laughing “I am you”… I ran back to the car  Didn’t stop till I was home. I can never forget that day When I met myself accidentally. Since then I’ve lived ...

Just leave. Don’t say a word. Don’t make it so difficult for me. If you must go then you must. I won’t keep you back. I won’t come in your way. I will stand here and wait Till you come back to stay. You can do whatever you like. I’ll never cross the line. Never tell you what to do To satiate my need. I can deal with myself. And if you don’t ever come, I’ll wait, and wait, and wait… But what will you do When you will need a hand To help you stand when you trip? You will be so far away- I seeing night and you seeing day. But who knows when the day Becomes night and night seems to be day? I’ll wait till such time and silently pray.

Here I see a sinking ship. Only me in it… Slowly the water Reaches my feet… I can’t swim. I can’t think. The brain is numb, The feet are frozen. The hands don’t move, The tongue is parched. What’s the point? Why even try? Let’s sit here. Let’s go down… The eyes soak in The lovely blue Of the sky and the sea- A blue that seems so new. What’s there in life? Never saw this blue When I lived… Did I live? Did I love? Was I loved? Who will cry? And for how long? Doesn’t matter now… I don’t care… Let’s wait and watch… Let’s be one with the blue… Here I sink… Or do I rise? I embrace the blue. But I don’t feel wet anymore. Sea or sky? Where am I? Am I free? “Never” cried a voice. And I touched the old soil Of love, hatred and recoil… Even death played a trick I feel so sick… A betrayed little dog Back on earth to slog…