A
NYMPH AT KONARK
SUSHIL
RAY
As
I gaze at you with winkless eyes
in mute wonder
meseems
I’ve seen you somewhere–
I
cannot recall when.
That
contour of your face, that dancing pose
and that familiar contraction of your
eyebrows
that wakes commotion in my mind
they all lie blended in your refined smiles
A
hymn as it were in marble you are
chanted by a master sculptor.
Those
limbs that were once so smooth
bear the ravages of Time today.
Ah,
those festive days are gone for ever.
How
youthful was your body
By
the wanton excess of Time
scars have appeared all over, ah me!
As
I gaze and gaze at you
it occurs to me
it’s better not fashioned in marble you are.
But
how will that help you?
Will
you be spared for that?
What
if we do not turn to be
as ruthless as Time lewd?
Aren’t
we all slaves of Time
so long as we wall on earth
his captive helpless?
If
we do not touch you,
Will
that leave you unmolested?
If
we do not run after you, Time shall.
Therefore,
take whatever precautions you may,
There’s
no escape.
Your
beauty fascinates me.
Yet
prostrated with grief am I.
Meseems I’ve seen you
at Konark
I
cannot recall when.
–Translated
from Bengali by Umanath Bhattacharya