The Martyr

Hiren Bhattacharya

In his blood
Stars sparkled
In his heart
Bees hummed
He lies in slumber 
Quiet and still. 

At the head of his bed
Blood-rinsed earth.

Translated by Krishna Dulal Barua

Hiren Bhattacharya (b.1932-d.2012) was an Assamese poet and lyricist best known for his lyric poems.

Krishna Dulal Barua is a prominent translator and writer based in Nagaon, Assam. He received the Katha Award for translation in 2005.

Click here to read the original Assamese poem.

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