By Jyotiprasad Agarwala

Being a visionary 
Flying among the white clouds
And becoming a butterfly 
Flying from flower to flower 
In the morning and sunset 
I donot want to forget
The stark reality rude,
Neither do I want to forget 
My duty austere.
Away from the earth 
Away from the dust and dirt 
I donot want
To get lost
In dream and delusion.

[Translated by Ananda Bormudoi]

Click here to read the original Assamese poem.

Jyotiprasad Agarwala (b.1903-d.1951) was a noted poet, songwriter, playwright, film maker and freedom fighter of Assam.