banalata sen

[swatkat]

Banalata Sen

For thousands of years I roamed the paths of this earth,
From waters round Ceylon in dead of night to Malayan seas.
Much have I wandered. I was there in the grey world of Asoka
And Bimbisara, pressed on through darkness to the city of Vidarbha.
I am a weary heart surrounded by life's frothy ocean.
To me she gave a moment's peace - Banalata Sen from Natore.

Her hair was like an ancient darkling night in Vidisa,
Her face, the craftsmanship of Sravasti. As the helmsman,
His rudder broken, far out upon the sea adrift,
Sees the grass-green land of a cinnamon isle, just so
Through darkness I saw her. Said she, 'Where have you been so long?'
And raised her bird's nest-like eyes - Banalata Sen from Natore.

At day's end, like hush of dew
Comes evening. A hawk wipes the scent of sunlight from its wings.
When earth's colors fade and some pale design is sketched,
Then glimmering fireflies paint in the story.
All birds come home, all rivers, all of this life's tasks finished.
Only darkness remains, as I sit there face to face with Banalata Sen.

- Jibanananda Das (translated into English by Clinton B. Seely)

Jibananda Das is quite possibly one of my favouritest poets *ever*, and Banalata Sen is arguably his most famous (and certainly most translated poem). This is a good translation, despite the occasional shudderworthy lines ('Her hair was like an ancient darkling night in Vidisa' is *not* an adequate translation for 'Chul taar kobekar ondhokaar Bidishar nisha'; god, that line gives me goosebumps).

Comments

[sajia.livejournal.com]

It's been so long since I read that poem in Bangla. Thank you so much. He, Lorca, Nazrul and Adrienne Rich were such huge influences on my songwriting.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I re-read his poems every now and then. Your mentioning Nazrul reminds me - haven't read any of his in a while. Must rectify. Hmm.

[sajia.livejournal.com]

Do you prefer Nazrul geeti or Rabindra sangeet? I worship Nazrul as a song composer, because of my dhrupad training and romantic inclination, but Tagore's songs have their own beguiling sweetness - it's Dionysiac vs Apollonian, Dostoevsky vs Tolstoy, Stones vs Beatles all over again.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Rabindra sangeet, only because I can actually sing them. With Nazrul, it's one line and then embarassed silence. That said, I'm v jealous of people who *can* sing Nazrul geeti, because that requires the real classical training I wish (now that I'm older and wiser) I'd opted for.