Gone Awry Poem by Sutapa Chaudhuri

Look dearie! ! !
Wanna watch?
Look'ere Son!
Catch it now!
Playin' action …
Watch'n' see! !
Lots'a cunnin',
Sleigh' of hand,
Juggl'rs tricks…
Magic's own -
Falsities!
'n Down, down, down,
Drops the birdie, - THUUD! !
Hop'n a jump
Sets th' rhythm.
Aim's done
Arrows taut
Shot high straight
Upwards too!
Stin' y'ur heart
Whooosh
Like that, - CAUGHT! !
Crawling, sliding, creeping, slowly
Nets a snare
Gostho Cuz'n -
Steppin' out,
Basket borne…
Arrows get
Th' creature down, - NOW! !
Oh Dear mee!
All awryy! ! !
Dup'd 'n gone…
Heyy Cuz'n 'ou,
Senile sudd'n?
Scrunchin' past y'ur
Ribby cages
Did th' arrow
Zoom unawares - ZAP! ! ?

*This poem is a free translation of a famous Bengali poem ‘Phoske Gelo'by the celebrated children's writer Sukumar Ray.