On the Threshold of Time

BRAJ KISHORE DAS

I have torn the screen of illusion
From my eyes to welcome you again,
To see you face to face;
Standing on the threshold of time
Disarmed and disillusioned
I can foresee you future and mine.

The air is festive and the flowers
Seem to be whispering a colourful tale;
The spring has revived the dead trees,
The once violent sea has been calm,
It’s time you and I
Sink our failures and silences.
Whatever has hurt our hearts
We shall forget it now.

When we first met in this strange city
Did we not find all doors closed for us?
How deep and ghastly was the silence
And what cruelty was in the eyes of the sentries?
There was light in the skies
But our eyes had only darkness within.

Now we can look at the light
With our eyes enlightened
And speak to each other
With hope and faith
As all doors have opened for us
And there’s no cruelty around.
–Translated by the author from the original in Oriya