Draupadi Withers

SNEHALATA CHATTOPADHYAY
(Translated from Bengali by UMANATH BHATTACHARYA)

Of late, covering the entire area of the mind
the reptile pangs crawl.
In body and soul wriggle the feeble cries
of swans throttled to death.
Days pass by, leaving the furrows of the years
in my virgin face.

In the month of Chaitra
a high wind blows from the sea
obliterating from the dreamy domes and minars
the ephemeral string of pearls
woven by the golden sun.
No subdued longing lingers in the blood,
no craving for anything is left;
the world is rendered inert
the pride is too deep for ill-will.
Yet someone I am told
vowed to win my hand
and loved to tell my name with his rosary.

Today I weave these fancies
in purple light of the departing day
No suitor has come to rob my heart
Arjun broke the bow asunder
but pull he could not the bow-string;
Draupadi withers.