The Royal Danseuse Poem by Pradip Saikia

Climbing up a hill
Staggering

The heart shook
Drunk dissipated sky

The herd of elephants fed with opium
Prowling in the night

I am climbing one step a t a time
To gain something
Or
To lose

Or
Am I descending
To a watery grave
Climbing down a stony ladder

I am chilling up gradually
Wearing a lost emerald necklace

Climbing down a hill

# Translated from Assamese to English by: Bibekananda Chowdhury