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You are here: Home / Poetry / As a moon’s serpent | Hiren Bhattacharyya

As a moon’s serpent | Hiren Bhattacharyya

July 5, 2013

A moon’s serpent slowly creeps upstream
Thoughts become boats and shuttle between the banks

On the nights of listening to tales
You’d swelled up as Champavati

‘I swear I haven’t trodden upon anyone’s shadow
Without beholding you I haven’t beheld the new moon’s face
I’ve emerged just after touching the brimming pitcher
Look here how my hands stay wet––’

I too haven’t turned into Ravana
I haven’t gaped at the fisherwomen without you among them
I haven’t been angling at all

‘After seeing you in dreams I sleep with my pillow overturned
On the Buddha Purnima I secretly plucked white-rose petals
And tucked them under the pillow.’

I’ll turn into a bird and devour
The three tufts of paddy left by you
Perched on your roof-top
I’ll coo as a dove
Arrive as a crow to finish
The fistful of rice-grains at the centre
As a flute’s sound
I’ll call you near the river
Remain hanging as the Sonaru-blooms

As a moon’s serpent I’ll creep up
To your tender bosom

I’ll turn into a bird and devour
The three tufts of paddy left by you
As a moon’s serpent creep up to the river
Brimming with the Sonaru’s yellow

 

Translator Profile |Krishna Dulal Barua has been consistently translating poems, short- stories and literary articles from Assamese to English. His ‘Selected poems of Nilmani Phookan’ published by the Sahitya Akademi appeared in 2007.He received the Katha Award for translation in 2005.

Authors : Hiren Bhattacharyya 


Hiren Bhattacharyya  (28 July 1932 – 4 July 2012) was one of the best known poets working in the Assamese language. He had innumerable works published in Assamese and achieved many prizes and accolades for his poetry. He is known as Hiruda among his fans.

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More Awesome Writings to Read:

  1. Tariquddin Ahmed : A Fine Voice by Krishna Dulal Barua
  2. Tejore Kamalapati (a Borgeet by Madhavdeva) : trans by Krishna Dulal Barua
  3. Failure : by Hiren Bhattacharyya
  4. Shillong – March 7, 2006
  5. Roots | Prayag Saikia ( trans. Krishna Dulal Barua)
  6. Does it Come to Your Mind, Arundhoti – by Navakanta Barooah (trans.)

Categories: Assamese, Poems, Translated Poems Tags: Assamese Poetry, Poets of Assam

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