The Drinking Joint Poem by Pradip Saikia

The rushing flood water has swelled

The mysterious wayside house
Like an uncoiled snake

Just now
The circular waves of the wine cup
Has receded
At the caress of alkaline lips

At the tiny window of emptiness
The departing guests appear one by one

Leaving behind the wail of footsteps on the floor
Smoking ashtray
Empty bottles

Outside
Visitor's hoarse voice
An orange tree
Lonely
Dumb

Silent raga in the lips of a house-lizard
Blackish tears in the eyes of the vagrant woman

In the revolving vast darkness
Gloomy twilight
The lamp of the drinking joint dances
With all the seven colours

# Translated from Assamese to English by: Bibekananda Chowdhury