Issue: Vol. V, No. 1, May-July, 2026
The Hunt
A great journey of mankind in quest of prey
by a group of people floating along in the wave of dream
uncountable formless objects of target swinging in mind
people are running, stopping and getting lost
perhaps talking nonsense in the quest for hunt
people are running carrying a gamble on existence
Like countless people getting into and alighting from a city bus
Unconnected among strangers, target object uncertain
Receding far away, waiting for none, ignore
In whose search people are busy
The hunt too gets a new look
Has given the people qualms, apprehensions, news of hunger
An odyssey
Seen, met, who had been left back where
Like getting into and alighting from a city bus
Holding in the heart
The grief or worry of losing a lack of relationship
People get away from sight
Carrying a dream pierced by an arrow
In search of a prey
Tireless steps.
The News You Read
The news you read
Has Taken the form of a heap of rocks
Tide of change
It has lost its identity
Love or pity envy or hate
Feel like laughing, feel grief too, why?
The reply is sorrowful
Resonance of destruction of change in every heart.
You the person are getting changed
The world is also changing
Symphony of food and breath
Sometimes even a step before time
The news you read appears like spark flying in an impact
The minds fill with sorrow.
You have stopped loving yourself
Have erected a wall that I don’t see
Becomes very difficult just to meet once
Hatred of centuries has accumulated in the news you read
Has eulogized suicide
The news you read has taken the form of a juicy story
of self-deception
Walking over an arid field
You are a person that appears destitute, emaciated
The news you read has gradually taken the form of a monster
And? Has appeared before you attired in a new garb
Cruel, explosive, hideous
Stealing your divinity
Made you an ever suffering person
Wandering in an empty field.
Translated by Bibekananda Choudhury
Khagen Saikia is an Assamese poet, novelist and writer based in Nagaon, Assam. He has six collections of poems and six novels to his credit.
Bibekananda Choudhury is a writer and translator based in Guwahati, Assam.