The Disrupted Gaggle (Sangbighno Pakhhikul - Mohiner Ghoraguli)

The runway stretches ahead in loneliness 

While the clouds hang stupefied in the sky

In the pain-ridden stupor of the lazy radar

A gaggle of chirping birds fly by

It’s been years since a soaring airplane 

Touched down in this vacuous aerodrome 

Strewn with litter and garbage, while the winds

Howl past the absent wings spread wide 

A little girl with her hair caught in the wind

Sobs with her face hidden in her frock

The poet has seen this picture, that’s why 

Floating clouds line his empty heart 

The picture imprinted on his mind 

Fills the poet with worry and care

Potent with the signs of an impending storm

The clouds lie stupefied on the sky  

(Translated by Samarpan Dutta)

Someday, on a rainy evening (Ek Din Brishti Te by Anjan Dutt)

Someday, on a rainy evening 
We’d both forget our umbrellas 
And bump into each other 
Drenched from head to toe
While the traffic vanishes around us
Storefronts down their shutters
Lingering in our heart of hearts
The sweet smell of petrichor

Someday, on a rainy evening 
It’ll all certainly come back to us in a jiffy
Broken promises and forgotten blemishes
Pain that’s sweet and dear
While somewhere a lonely radio
Chimes an old love song
Raindrops slowly turn blue 
Against a greying sky
Someday, someday… 
Someday, on a rainy evening…

A fading poster proudly announces
An old sold-out matinee
And the raindrops will hide
Our tears
Pittar patter…pittar patter…
raindrops…tears

Someday, on a rainy evening 
We’ll finally get caught, you’ll see
Fears, tears, and unspoken despair
Finally washed clean
The moment frozen in time
We won’t be able to run and hide
The roads will all be the same
Just the two of us around…

Someday, on a rainy evening 
We’d both forget our umbrellas 
And bump into each other 
Drenched from head to toe
While the traffic vanishes around us
Storefronts down their shutters
Lingering in our heart of hearts
The sweet smell of petrichor

Someday…someday…
Someday…on a rainy evening…

(Translated by Samarpan Dutta)