Along The Tram Line

I walk along the tram line: night now deep I hear the teasing of some life of the past: ‘You are like a broken tram— there is no depot, you don’t need wage Alas, when has this occurred! ’ That old life sinks behind The star in the sky, in darkness. Which way to go? The quiet city has not answer. She is just spread over, Like the God of the believer. I bury my face in her lap—I want to believe, I wish If my soul could walk away leaving Aside the city avenues. Light from the gas lamps beacons At the entrance of the saddened lanes They resonate with Sankha’s wailing cries I know them—like me they also know everything That’s why so much dark, tired, cold All these lanes. Yet they do not move—lost in slumber, behind the stars they take a break. Who else will offer a recess? Translated by Faizul Latif Chowdhury