Maya: Imaginary Land Of Adolescent Poem by Kanishka SricharanPratap

The filigree of dreams
In the adolescent's
Imagination
Shall roll down as tears,

Each night is moonlit night
So much you lament...
And lament...
One day will come to an end!
............
............

Go with flowers...
Go with honey...

O, bird!
Bird of the vital,
Remain there!
...
...
When
I was caught
By your staring net,

You cut the wings
With love's knife

How could I fly?
...
...
You are alone...
I am alone too...
The rain of Shravana falls...

Who on this bank?
Who on that bank?
Tell me:
On the bank of which river?
...
...
The moon of autumn
Has risen on the face
Dew-drenched feet,

You touched my heart
In the silent night
And broke my sleep!
...
...
Written in unknown script
A tale unintelligible
Written I was
On the heart of the stone!

By touching
With soft fingers
You read
I was wiped out!
...
...
The tossing blue lily
Of seven seas
Full of all tears!

There lies my birth
And also my death
Those are your two eyes!
...
...
Come like a storm
Go like a storm
Yet you are no storm!

You shed
The buds from the branches
And sometimes
Link it again!
...
...
Floating and floating...
Moves the autumn cloud
Where does it go?

The game of police and thief
Goes on prolonging
Where shall it end?
...
...
A line of collyrium
In your eyes
It's like line of Laxman!

Speaking... speaking:
Enough is enough
Never shall we meet.
...
...
Darkness has spread
As dark as Krishna,
Why are you standing?

The jungle fire
Burns the body
And not the jungle?
...
...
In which hidden part
Lies the black mole
Tell the secret?

I gave a kiss
On your lip
You gave it to that.
...
...
Distant islet of the river
On the branch of a Tamal tree
I am a lonely bird!

I search in vain
Your footprints
Down on the road!
...
...
You are my drowsy stream
Mahuli flower!

I am your obstinate black bee
A floating cloud!
...
...
Month of 'Chaita' has gone
Shaking the heart!

You have gone too
Blossoming flowers!
...
...
A drop of tear of my eye
You
Shall not drop!

A little sob in my heart
You
Shall not stop!
...
...
If I am 'Dhruba'
You are my dark night,

For you only
I shall emit light!
...
...
Let the ear of wall
Remain where it is,
Let the wind go in its way...

Return me
Whatever you have taken,

I swear
Will never leak the secret.
...
...
You are
The blue lily of desire,

I am
The last pyre of Mokshya!
...
...
Who goes where?
Responding to whose call?
Whose gesture?

You are the wind of 'Chaita'
Blow on...
I am the hot storm
Blow on too!
...
...
I am the black spot
Of 'Kaliyug'
My house is
Stained in black,

I was not
I shall not be
I belong to none!
...
...
Hand suddenly stopped
While giving the touch,

Your lip suddenly stopped
While kissing...
The day is lost!
...
...
Never ask me
What I am,
Everything will be over.

Can you ask the mirror
Who is the Champak-beauty?
The golden fair?
...
...
Tell me
Whose morning and evening
Are you?
The bright moonlit night?

The cuckoo's first song
From the distant past
You have been singing!
...
...
Take the eye
Take the heart
Take, as I have touched,

A small dream
A small hope
Give me small thirst!
...
...
Water from the pitcher
Over flows
You fill up
Again and again!

My wax-mind melts
I do break it
Again and again!
...
...
I am a tone
Of one line of song
You catch,
But fail to catch!

I am the hint
Of a small tale
You understand
But fail to understand!
...
...
In the branch
Of your body
When the bud blooms,

Why the wind comes
Stealing the fragrance
Without any notice?
...
...
You left
Like the dream of the dawn
Before I could rise!

Tore me apart
With lac-dye knife!
...
...
In the dense forest
You are a cooing tune!

The dream of my eye
Like the dry leaf
Has fallen down!
...
...
The empty tree
The empty branch
Who in that branch?

The empty fruit
Someone eats
In emptiness!
...
...
Don't say "no"
I will churn
Your sea of sorrow,

I will take venom
With love
Nectar is yours.
...
...
I gave something
You gave something
You took
I took,

The merchant of dreams
I sailed my boat!
...
...
While I embraced
In the moonlight
Of distant past,

Like a creeper
You crept
In my blood
In my breath!
...
...
Don't call if you call...
Oath on you...
Call me no more,

My mind
The glass-mirror
Has broken!
...
...
I know... I know
Where lies
The love,

I know... I know
Where lies
The edge of knife!
...
...
Small smiles
Small pleasures
I shall give to you,

Some more tears
Some more sobs
When shall you give?
...
...
You are 'Megha Malhar'
'Ashabari'
And 'Saberi',

Both the banks
Of murmuring desire!
...
...
I can't bear
I can't stay
You are still and silent!

I can't catch
I can't pick
My hand does not reach!
...
...
Where was this dust-storm?
Came all on a sudden
Door opened!

Lip slipped off the lip
The embrace was cut!
...
...
River of separation
You are
Over flow the bank,

The second day moon
I am
Of the far off sky
Look upon my own shadow!


Translated from Odia by
Tarun Kumar Sahu