Poems by Anupama Dutta Saikia
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Firefly
He entered my bedroom Through the open window at midnight Carrying a lamp As if looking for something. One day, I asked him: What did you lose? Why do you come like this in the dark? Eyes blinking, he replied: I thought of coming to see you… I said: don’t play with me. You spent your day Dreaming of night in the dry grass. In the evening, you flew from your flock & turned into a wayward buffalo at midnight. You must have lost your way. Laughing, he asked me: The one with a light in his heart Does he ever lose his way? Translated from the Assamese by Amlanjyoti Goswami a poet she didn’t become a poet by writing poems. sowing with her own hands planting saplings the green field turned golden The river called her—poet—and passed by. she didn’t become a poet by writing poems. those who cast doubt, she wouldn’t curse even by mistake. those who sang her praise, she wouldn’t invite for a grand lunch. under the tulsi she planted in her heart an earthen lamp glowing after twilight. no one heard the gods whispering – to her ears quietly pouring the immortal words of a poem Translated from the Assamese by Amlanjyoti Goswami |
Anupama Dutta Saikia has written the following books: Aranyak Shubhokamona (poetry / LBS Publications), Upoja Matir Haat Bauli (translated novel / Sahitya Akademi), Pashan Jetiya Pome (translated short story / Sahitya Akademi), Manobiyo Uttapere Umal Huwa Holey (poetry / Xobdor Alaap). In 2010, she received the Sahitya Akademi Translation Award. She has worked as a documentary translator and voice actor at Films Division, Mumbai, and as a newsreader at Akashvani, Delhi. She has also worked in various mass media, including DAVP and Publications Division.
Amlanjyoti Goswami’s new book of poetry, Vital Signs (Poetrywala) follows his widely reviewed collection, River Wedding (Poetrywala). Published in journals and anthologies across the world, including Poetry, The Poetry Review, Penguin Vintage, Rattle and Sahitya Akademi, he is also a Best of the Net and Pushcart nominee. His work has appeared on street walls of Christchurch, buses in Philadelphia, exhibitions in Johannesburg and an e-gallery in Brighton. He has reviewed poetry for Modern Poetry in Translation and has read at various places, including New York, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Boston and Delhi. He grew up in Guwahati and lives in Delhi.
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