Shakti Chattopadhyay
(Translated by Khademul Islam)
The river’s song is slow in the evening
After many days
Higgledy-piggledy rise the
Sandbanks
Blue ink from the jungle
Streams into the river
In the evening
Slow seems the river’s song.
The river was there at noon, in the morning
Its waters streaming swift
Now under the evening’s foggy blanket
In creeps languor
A spectral boat floats
Who are they who
Walk along the moon’s
Embankment?
They are those who
Guard the boat.