Bhaben Barua’s Poem

Voice of Disrupted Sleep

Midday or was it at the dead of night
On the other bank of the river
Who,wish I knew,  hollered at whom
Na-re-shw-ar.

Where and when, who knows, rings abruptly
the voice of broken sleep.


............................................
Nareshwar: A common Assamese male name.

Translated by Uttam Duorah

Bhaben Barua (b. 1939-) is a distinguished Assamese poet and critic.

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

Click here for the original poem.