No time for cheer, not a happy time this
(সে বড়ো সুখের সময় নয়, সে বড়ো আনন্দের সময় নয় )

My steps falter, my head swims, walls on walls, cornices on cornices,
Pavements change at midnight,
On my way home, houses within houses, feet within feet, heart within heart
Nothing more—(so much more?)—but well before that
My steps falter, my head swims, walls on walls, cornices on cornices,
Pavements change at midnight
On my way home, houses within houses, feet within feet, heart within heart
Nothing more.
“Hands up”— put up your hands—till someone picks you up
Black cars within black cars, and another black car inside.
Rows of windows, doors. Graveyards—skeletons topsy-turvy
White worms within bones, life within worms, death within life—hence
Death within death
Nothing more.
“Hands up”—put up your hands—till someone picks you up and
Flings you out of the car, but inside a different car,
Where someone always waits—like a banyan sapling clings to the plaster
Someone or the other, someone you do not know
Lies in wait, like a firm bud lurks behind leaves
With traps of golden cobwebs, ready to garland you—
You’ll be wedded at midnight, when pavements change---
Steps falter, head swims
Walls in walls, cornices in cornices.
Imagine, the train still, stations rushing by, stars shining beside dimming light domes
Imagine, shoes walking, feet still—this, that, any poppycock
Imagine children carrying corpse-bearing palanquins to Nimtolla—
And beyond,
The old lined up for a wedding dance—
No time for cheer, not a happy time this.
Just then,
My steps falter, my head swims, walls on walls, cornices on cornices,
Pavements change at midnight
On my way home, houses within houses, feet within feet, heart within heart
Nothing more.