Haven’t Seen You a Million Years

 

THE ARTIST

after Jayati Das---in the shadow of Ramkinkar Baij

O Sky—

let me seize you

in the curve of trembling fingers,

in the fists of earth-stained hands.

Let me sculpt your vastness in clay.

Bird—won’t you flutter away?

Lift that supple neck—

how warm,

how tender the ribs beneath!

Let my gaze drift to Egypt,

to Tibet—

for you—breathing forest.

And as your bark peels away,

a seabird laughs in flight—

a grace no touch could hold.

Come, sit before the fire—

before the storm's hunger 

tearing all apart—

to scattered ash.

You think me mad!

Don’t ask its cast.

Let the whole body ignite in creation.

Why cleanse it, beloved?

Drink the river—like a deer at peace,

while the hunter’s light gleams

in these nails, these eyes.

Within your depths,

I dissolved

to carve the unshaped into form.

Did you hear the wail—

was it a tiger’s cry?

Which mountain now veils

your vanishing face?

Come, let me touch—

you, luminous stone,

star of ineffable beauty.

I offer the heart's full blossom, 

my worship through form.

And yet—

you remain unformed.

NB : This poem origins in Bangla, written by Jayati Das. Photo credit goes to well-known artist Sadek Mukul.

Poet's Bio : 

Jayati Das is a modern poet writing in Bangla, showing immense promise. She was born in North 24 Parganas , West Bengal.  She published her poem collections : 'ek karnish " and "'maya Nagari; and also contributed poems to ' Pandulip'r Kobita sankolon 2 (2023), 3 (2024), 4 (2025).