REMEMBERING
HER BIRTHDAY
UMANATH BHATTACHARYA
On what day of the week, month and year
On what date of the calendar she bloomed
Like a sweet little graceful flower
I know, and cherish that day.
Long ago a flower unfolded in
A tub in my outer veranda. A few
Insects somehow entered within to eat
Into its vitals. Foolish creatures. They thought
That tender flower did bloom for them.
A swarm of humming honeybees and colourful
Butterflies wished to plunge in its breasts.
The flower-girt thwarted them directly.
At the day-end what the flirting winds
Were whispering to her to warm up the fair one
I wondered. Sudd’nly my mind was filled
With a bitter, jealous gall. Like
Those insects, bees and butterflies did I take
It for granted that flower was mine, mine alone
And not for anybody else. Ah, the fond
Feeling of love. In this area where’s
The difference, twin the bees, butterflies and the huma
(Translated from Bengali by the poet)