Yashodhara Ray Chaudhuri Biography

The woman's hands seek pleasure in the lonely room.
There was a glass sphere on the table : she picks that up.
She feels something heavy, round, smooth,
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Simantini wanted to be a model
Simantini could not be a model.
Near Fuleswar Station
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A womb had borne child eight times
And all eight times success was hers.
Another womb, only once.
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She had slept on her mat. The untouchable mat.
No I shall not sleep on it, on this black mat
On this untouchable mat.
this torn, longlasting, loneliness-born
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The woman's hands seek pleasure in the lonely room.
There was a glass sphere on the table : she picks that up.
She feels something heavy, round, smooth,
It is so good. So satisfying.
She feels lonely. She feels hungry.
She has tried the mintbox or the pinholder before,
longish, plum
But how long can one stick to a shape?
The ultimate truth in not in a shape.
Then the real object could have worked.
The real does not work . So, in a lonely room, all day
The hand seeks the satisfying alternative.
At last one found the glass sphere. With spots
Of colours thrown around inside.
Inside, Oh so nice!
The woman tries again for the ultimate pleasure.

Translation: Yashodhara Ray Chaudhari
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