Prem Narayan Nath (28-07-1956 / Jamuguri, Nagaon, Assam)

Evening bells toll in the temple
Birds flatter their wings
the merchant sails off by a distant river

A child weeps
graveyards become cool in the breeze
crown of light falls down in darkness

On the palm sorrowful days clot
the sky breaks down through
the roof of dream

Domestic past settles down on
eyelids at regular intervals of night
fishes move up
in silent watery green

There is the hum of raga gandhara
in darkness
time takes root through the river current
the silent tree of breast revives

Flowing river, yellow waves
water builds up the banks
the lost boat of
hunger, conflict and hesitation
floats in.




Translated from the Assamese by Pradip Khataniar