A Village Far Far Away

Far, far away is my village! Where fireflies of my childhood Still glow in thick folliage Of Pipal trees. My lisping words As they fell from my lips Are still alive On old, bent, dying stairs Of the long-deserted house! Like rapiers thrust into silence. Far, far away is my village! Where darkness Spreads its wing before it is evening Tick-tocking sound of the flour mill Long flights of birds Going far, far away Tinkling bells All become a single tune To drown into the dark lake Of night. Far, far away is my village! Where I saw Dreams of happy days to come While learning my lessons In the dim light Of hurricane lamp. Far, far away is my village! Where reflections of my first love Still linger Where paths are shrouded In sadness And loneliness laced with secret longings Peoples fields, ponds, the school And trees herded together. Far, far away is my village! Where wind still finds Its way in moonlit nights Through silent streets And sleepy courtyards Calls for me in silence And turns back, not finding me. Wind has the same old habit The same old routine But life has trampled me Under direction-less feet Of crowds in cities. (Translated by Dr. Satyapal Anand)