Issue: Vol. V, No. 3, November-January, 2026-27

If I may die

If I may die
Do let me know
On Facebook and Instagram walls
How gentle
How benevolent
How kind hearted I was.
Do offer some fresh flowers
Over my cold bed
And don’t forget to take a snapshot.
Do shed some tears too.
Don’t count my achievements
‘coz I have none.
I have no land of my own
Neither bought some
Nor inherited any.
Of my house
That too will be handed over
To my son
Who will renovate it as per his choice
Or sell it at will.
Bank balance I have none
Spent most of my earnings
On food, clothes and medicine
The basic needs of life.
Rest I gave away
To the foodless beggar at the street
To the homeless orphan
To the sweaterless children at winter
To the helpless sick man
And to many others
I don’t remember.
Some left yet until
I paid the taxes.
Don’t search for heavenly qualities in me
‘coz I was a perfect human being
A man with all the limitations of mankind.
Except one vice
I don’t steal
Knowing exactly that
I can have what belongs to me only.
Do pray for my safe passage
Through the burning hell
(I should be purged of my guilts)
No, not to heaven.
I will prefer to come back home
To this earth, familiar and own.
Do wish me happy homecoming.

Rashmi Rekha Bora Hazarika is a versatile translator and writer, proficient in both Assamese and English, with expertise in translating to and from these languages.