The murderous night advances with stealthy steps—
Shattering the fragile barricade of the infirm frame
Entering the soul,
Robbing it off the graceful pride of life.
The mind surrenders to the assault of gloom.
As the shame of defeat, the humiliation of ennui intensify,
There suddenly appears in the horizon
Day’s ensign, etched with rays of gold,
A voice is heard from some distant corner of the skies
Crying out ‘Sham, sham.’
In the joyful light of dawn
I see my own image triumphant in sorrow
At the summit of the ruined fortress of my being.

Udayan
February 3, 1941
Afternoon

Published in Parabaas August, 2010 (22-she Sraban, 1417)