THE CAMPHOR CRYSTALS

Affection were camphor crystals

Burnt quickly to ash, offering dish

Of deity has no trace of devotion,

Some pieces of sacred rice, flower

Basil leaves, colored powder, wet

Sandal remained on the surface of

Relation, tear drops searches the

Reason, it’s caused by smoke of

Sanctified flames or haunting by

Remembrance, the holy water has

Scattered on the residues, chanted

The hymn consistently by priest, the

Perfumed sticks had limited zest,

Smokes were born liberated, moved

In the parallel of wind, extinct into

The sky, in the skinny darkness of

Twilight, unsatisfied desires wept,

In the neighboring arena unknown

Pyre brings the compassion card, the

Stars have been sank leaving a

Path of nebula, on the banyan tree

Nothing has changed, the horn of

Ferry calls the life, the chimney says

Good-bye, the sound of conch floats

On the glittering, stable river waves,

Gradually ferry disappears, I’m

Before you since centuries, but face

Said, you didn’t identify my existence,

Time has made me rusted, I have

No introduction proof, I’m wanderer,

No, regret for that my beloved friend.

--- SHANTANU SANYAL