Frog Stopping by the waterside he said, Where 're you going, wait I am also going. I didn't listen to him and went forward. Met him again. Mounting a toadstool he said, Going on in the same manner? I rose up In his ribbiting voice a sneering smirk. The ear with which I heard it Seemed to be not outside! Drenched in the unforeseen shower of rain I was in a quandary. This time from below an arum leaf the frog said, You stupid human,come here if you're not ashamed, Here, too, there's space. Drenched and glum I walked down. The heavy shoes dragged me forward. Leaping,the frog fell in front of me, Said,got the taste of being human,eh! Why didn't you become a frog? Similar critters You call only yourselves human.
Translated by Uttam Dourah
Harekrishna Deka is a Sahitya Akademi award winner poet, short story writer and literary critic of India who writes in Assamese.
Uttam Duorah, the translator, retired as the HoD, English, Women’s College, Tinsukia and is based in Tinsukia, Assam.