The whole rainy evening
My eyes sat on the plinth.
The evening spread on the grass
Of my plinth.
I was stunned
Green lightning struck still
On the eyes, carrying the hunger of Durbasa
My glance stilled on my eyelid
In delight
In shocked silence
The ecstasy of the first wedding night
Many a beauty fare have I passed, many a
Market have I roamed!
Wearied by endless bargaining
Despaired customers in shops
Today in my plinth
Hidden from all glances
A beauty enraptured
Shyness in the ugly, annoyed eyes
A very comely darling
Hidden behind a veil;
Beauty has shown itself
In the cracks of the earth.
No eyes burnt this way
In Kaziranga or Dabaka
... today in my plinth
With all the world’s grace
Silently sat a slimy toad
With stripes on its back.
A toad is a toad, it has no other identity
Even if it has wonders in life.
Then we are friends! Let there be friendship
And exchange of dreams between us.
[ Translated by SN ]
