Shamsur Rahman

translated from the original Bengali by

Bhismadev Chakrabarti

Three white horses leap in the air
Their wild manes fly ablaze
The world of humans recedes to a thrum
Three white horses leap in the air

Perhaps the clouds seek their kin
Sways and swells the ground in sync
Open blades dazzle in the wind
Three swords shine in the dark

Dreamless now in barren grounds
All too small, all too real
The hooves shower sparkles all over
Three white horses, three dreams alive

Empty clouds fly away now
Far from the blue, deep blue
A million rose petals come up,
Like lines of a face in the dark

Three horses are courage perhaps,
Past, present, and future their manes
A shining crown on their empty backs
Three white horses leap in the air

Published November, 2020

Translated by Bhismadev Chakrabarti

Illustrated by Nilanjana Basu. Nilanjana has been regularly illustrating for Parabaas. She is currently based in California.