SHE WALKED PAST

I was waiting for her,
She knew that I would be waiting.
I waited ... hours past the time agreed.
I waited ...my heels dug in the hot sands of tomorrow.

The only crane of the lake across came and asked me:
Would I care for a couple of fishes.
May be he was moved by my patience and yearn.

I smiled. But, I declined.

The only sparrow around sat on my shoulder.
He found it steadier than a branch of a tree.
He asked me : why I have not moved an inch in hours .

I smiled .But, I did not reply.

And..... then she walked past me.
She was in a hurry.
Is anyone waiting for her at the end of this road?
Someone who waited for longer than I have?
Or she wanted to meet God before He melts away .

The only ant around crept to my side ,
He told me :I have wasted my time;
Now I should go away.

I wiped a tear.
A loser's tear.
And ... then I started my walk back .
Into the shadow of the eastern sky.

The poem I wanted to post on 23/06/2006

I came across a few lines on forgetfulness in an issue of ' DESH' quite a few weeks ago. This isue was not available among the copies I have at Parnasree . Fortunately, with Suman's help , I could get those few lines . The poet , Utpal Kumar Basu , has captured the relationship between age and forgetfulness without any negative expression. Please read on :

from SUKHER DUKHER SATHEE,Utpal Kumar Basu

I have translated these lines -- what can be termed as ' bhabanubad' :

Cannot recollect which song you sang, what was the tune.
Now Forgetfulness , like a dear housekeeper keeps my household clean

My clothes are stacked in the cupboard
With a little help from her, surroundings get filled up with sunset (colours).*

The alternatives of the lastline catches the meaning as well : Twilight fills up all four sides OR Sunset colours all four sides.