translated by Sunil B. Ray, Nandana Dev Sen, and Carolyne Wright with the author

When it rains it seems the room itself turns blue, trembles

and falls like rain, as if endless time coming from nowhere

fills the room, as if endless wind blowing in

carries the room to the riverbank;

                        turning into a boat, I float

I get soaked; swaying, shivering, I keep

moving; in the distance one can see the line where

                        the river meets the sea, as if

all around waves hiss, as if there’s nobody around

anywhere as if a profound sobbing chokes the throat

as if terrifying harsh sobs strangle

the room – By what strange magic

the ten directions sparkle in a moment,

                        as if everything will revert

to its real shape, as if all is a dance,

all is rhythm, all is tinted light –

Awakening and seeing the rain, sometimes it’s

like this, then I pray Oh sky

break up the room and give me more rain!

15 June 1966

Calcutta