By Navakanta Barua

The last man in the procession
Knew not
He was in the front line
Of a new procession

In the last line of my poem
I see the first line
Of a new poem

Till I'm able to begin my final poem
You'll go on penning
My new poems

After your last line
Unknowingly I'll begin
         Your very poems

[Translated by Krishna Dulal Barua]

Click here to read the original Assamese poem.

Navakanta Barua (b.1926-d.2002) was a prominent Assamese poet, novelist and translator.

Krishna Dulal Barua is a prominent translator and writer based in Nagaon, Assam. He received the Katha Award for translation in 2005. He can be reached at kd_barua2008@rediffmail.com