The Noon of Rome The shadow of an ancient building Ancient as the city itself, The youthful celebration of intimate moments- Youth too that has lasted for ages. The tiles of the roofs have decayed The water of the Tiber wears a similar look. Whatever it may be now Their homes of childhood and youth in Rome Made of red brick, lime and brick dust of history, And it is they who are Rome In their veins run Leo da Vinci and Michelangelo I am a blank sheet on the move. Rome has grown up in its soil Not arrived in any flying saucer from another planet. The blood of Caesar is wiping the stains of this city of flying flags. Now I have reached a postbox- The letters Dante wrote to Virgil is in techno-tested latest Latin language. The quiet lessons of history heard in the intimate solitude From their leafy lips from the craving of their fingers.
Translated by Nirendra Nath Thakuria
Anubhav Tulasi is an Assamese poet, translator and film critic. He has more than fifteen collections of poems to his credit.
Nirendra Nath Thakuria, retired Associate Professor of English, is a translator.