Banalata Sen Poem by Shamik Kumar Bose
Banalata Sen
This is a translation of a famous poem by Bengali Poet Jibanananda Das. The original poem was composed on 1934. More so at
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banalata_Sen
Banalata Sen
by Poet Jibanananda Das
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For a thousand years I have been walking upon the bosom of my earth
From Ceylon Ocean to a darkling night falling upon the sea of Malaya
So much I've travelled!
Into the dusky world of Bimbishar Asoka,
I was there!
Farther inside into that very darkness of city Bidarbha
I am a tired soul
Everywhere the oceanic foams of life throbbing
for just only a while I was blessed with some peace
At last!
From her! She, Banalata Sen of Natore.
Her hairs like an ancient dark night fallen on Bidisha,
Face truly sculpted in vigor of Srabasti;
Far inside an ocean,
when a ship wrecked sailor had lost his vision
All on a sudden as he discovered a grass green
Inside an island cinnamon
Like that only I have seen her in darkness!
Quipped she, “Where have you been for so long? “
Her eyelids like a bird's nest, had opened
She, Banalata Sen of Natore.
When a day ends in wholeness, evening descends like a dew's whisper;
Falcon wipes out the smell of sunshine from his wings;
When all colors fade away from the face of this earth,
records of life start unfolding;
From inside a fabric of stories to the twinkling of fireflies
all birds return to nests - all rivers - come to an end all trades of life;
Only darkness now prevails and sitting face to face with Banalata Sen.
Copyright: Shamik Bose 2009
Through this poem you have paid an excellent tribute to the great Jibananda Das, and to Poetry itself! 10! -Raj
wonderful, this poem is not only a translation but you have kept it alive by putting the magic of emotions in it. thanks alot. take care
'When a day ends in wholeness evening descends like a dew's whisper' I love this part, a lovely poem made by a lovely poet too. Thanks for sharing the translation of this poem, I like this very much
You have done a great job, Shamik. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to read the work of Jibanananda Das. This was a beautiful poem enriched with great imagery and thoughts. I will expect more translations of the said poet. Regards Naseer
A pleasure to read for those who do not speak Bengali. Thanks.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/23/2024 2:26:39 AM # 1.0.0.1119
This is a most famous poem in Bengali Literature. The appeal for romanticism, surreal voice and abstraction is unparalled. Poet Jibanananda Das wrote for Nature, the green nature of a Bengal, the green scenic Bengal villages and he created images out of Poetry that was recognized by the Poet Laurette Rabindranath Tagore. Poet Jibanananda is one of my my favourite Poet and the more I read of him, the more I find joy, as simple as that.