Come and be with him
(দাঁড়াও)

Shakti Chattopadhyay

Translated from the original Bengali by
Nandini Gupta



Man is hurting, come stand beside him as a man
He lays traps, come to him as a bird.
Man is so alone, come and be with him.

You've been on my mind, since morning
You are on my mind at dusk, at night.
Man is so alone, come and be with him.

Come, floating to him, come to him in love.
Man is hurting, come stand beside him as a man
Man is so alone, come and be with him.



The original poem 'Daraao' (দাঁড়াও) was included in the book ('Manush baRo kandchhe', মানুষ বড়ো কাঁদছে) published first in August 1978 by Ananda Publishers (আনন্দ পাবলিশার্স).

Parabaas, June, 2020

Illustrated by Iraban Gupta Basu. Iraban Gupta Basu is a student locked down in India, teetering anxiously between school and college.