Dream-Swimming Poem by Samarendranath Mahapatra

All through the yester night
flowers whispered on
river banks,
stars joy-gathered,
flute notes played in the wind,
all through the yester night
this slum was hectic
with some desperate noise.

Now, at this dawn time
all are asleep
tired and perplexed with
the hunters eyes,
Let us not vex them.

Their bodies are yet
to be out of the experience
of yester night,
the bones from pains
the looted hearts
and the challenging decisions
are seriously sick.

Now, everywhere the emptiness
like the soul of unknown sins
the shadow of doubt is cast
all through the slum,
searching for lost dreams
now I am swimming
in the mid-sea.