History Poem by Pradip Saikia

An ancient verandah
Floating in the juncture of
Day and night

From where
The dogs on their morning strolls is visible
And
Their casual defecation

From here it stinks
The buxom girls
That goes for evening strolls exposing the midriffs

This ancient veranda
Experienced with
Whose incessant talk
And
The echoes of sound of steps

A worn out chair
Left devoured by the termites

Lonely pitiless driving rains
Of many rainy summers

A single piece of a worn out shoe
An earthen ashtray

Sleeping with eyes open
In the transition of day of night


# Translated from Assamese to English by: Bibekananda Chowdhury