TRANSLATIONS: ARUNAVA SINHA

The Letters

The letters came together
Yours and the income-tax one
Both contained demands
Down to the last penny

I’ve paid the tax dues

Learning I have to bring you a red lotus
I woke the stars from their slumber
And said, make the blood-knife even sharper

* * *

Sensing

You touched me
My body got the sun it loves
The joy of sensing
The return of all that the fog
Had swept away
Has made me a blue bird