Jibanananda Das (17 February 1899 – 22 October 1954 / Barisal / Bangladesh)

In one October morning,
some dewdrops fell on my face and hair.
The dewdrops are here through
Sarika bird’s courtesy.

Three drenched sarika birds
almost touching an emblica tree
enjoying the sun’s warmth.
Is it an indigo-laden blue field?
Or is it an azure sky?
Is it the sun? Or something sun-like?

The bird slithers away
from our world into its own.
In my life, I have seen many sarika birds,
but never have I seen anything
like those three.

[Original: Kartiker Bhorbela (Bengali) Translation by: A.H. Jaffor Ullah]

Note: 'Sarika Bird' is indigenous to India and is called Shalik in Bangla.
'Emblica' is known as Amloki in Bangla.