By Mahendra Bora

I bawled out over the field
Towards far off
Across the horizon beyond the range of vision
No response came back as an echo

The bell around the buffalo’s neck made with wooden cover
The vapid sounds of which are 
Wafting
In the static void of the field in the quiescent evening

As if an ancient beckon since aeons
Shivering and dancing
Spreads over the swamp grass, stubble and bog
From welkin to welkin

Feel like following that soft whistle
Which has been calling me from across the patch of fog
With a swishing sound the whole day
Towards far off

[Translated by Uttam Duorah]

Click here to read original Assamese poem.

Dr. Mahendra Bora (b. 22.08.1929-d.09.04.1996) was an eminent modern Assamese poet, critic and translator.

Uttam Duorah, the translator, retired as the HoD, English, Women’s College, Tinsukia and is based in Tinsukia, Assam.