IN
A FIT OF PIQUE
MANORAMA SINHA RAY
Embarrassed is she
with her prickly limbs.
Too luxuriant, it seems,
her body has grown–
seasoned in sun and shower.
Oh, never will she
flower now!
I reason within
and keep the tub aside, away.
But soon at dawn one day
I’m thrilled to see:
Surrounded by many a
wild tree
my Bougainvillaea
fair
is hung all over with
floral bracts
gorgeous and gay!
[Translated from Bengali by Umanath Bhattacharya]