অনেকদিন পর —
নিম্ন আলো কাঁদছে আমার সাথে।
মন পরে আছে
সারে-নটার হাওয়ায়ে, দক্ষিণের ওই ছাদে;
ট্রাম-রাস্তায়ে, বাসে-মেট্রোয়ে, ময়দানে,
চৌরঙ্গীর ফুটপাথে।
যাওয়া যাচ্ছেনা ছুটে, ফেরা যাচ্ছেনা বাড়ি।
আনন্দের মুহূর্তেও মন হয়ে আছে ভারী।
আর দূরত্বটা ঘন হয়ে আছে,
যেন ভীষণই দরকারি।
তোমার কাছে আসবো বলেই
দিন গুনি —
আর বেশিদিন নয় তো,
এই তো, শিগ্গিরি, তারাতারি…
Transliteration (dictionary):
śiggiri
ônēkdin pôr —
nimno ālō kⁿādcʰē āmār sātʰē.
mon porē ācʰē
sārē-nôŧār hāōẏāẏé, dokṣiṇēr ōi cʰādē;
ŧrām-rāstāẏē, bāsē-mēŧrōē, môẏdānē,
cōurongīr phuŧpātʰē.
yāoẏā yāccʰē nā cʰuŧē, pʰērā yāccʰē nā bāṛi.
ānondēr muhūrtēō mon hoẏē ācʰē bʰārī.
ār dūrotvoŧā gʰôno hoẏē ācʰē,
yæno bhīṣoṇi dôrkāri.
tōmār kācʰē āsbō bolēi
din guni —
ār beśidin nôẏ tō,
ēi tō, śiggiri, tārātāri…
Translation:
In a hurry
It’s been quite long
That the dim light of the dusk weeps with me.
My thoughts remain
At the nine-thirty hours of the southern windy roof-top;
At the tram-lanes, buses, metros,
At the footpaths of Chowringhee.
It’s not possible to run back home.
Even the happiest hours are hung upon by a gloom,
And the distance hangs upon, as if sincerely.
I now count my days to come to you —
Not many are left, a few, a little more, in a hurry…
Debdutta Paul 
Wow! My Bengali is not that good so I couldn’t comment on the last one but this is really good. Especially the last line.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. 🙂 I don’t think the translation has done justice to the original, though. Especially the last line sounds forced; the original was much more fluent.
LikeLike
If the translation has not done justice, then I condemn myself that I don’t know Bengali. Today your page has made my day.
Thanks. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind words!
Please don’t condemn yourself, it’s okay!
LikeLike
The city of joy. 🙂 I too am waiting to return…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the mood of the poem. These lines conjure up many memories for me:
“‘It’s been quite long
That the dim light of the dusk weeps with me.”
One suggestion: You may also add the original poem (Bengali one) in English script. I think few words can be understood and the reader connects more deeply with the poem with the translation beside. I read Tagore’s poems in this way, so thought to give this perspective. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have done so for this poem, and also the earlier ones and the new ones (https://debduttapaul.wordpress.com/category/poetry/bengali/). You may check if you get time. Thanks for this amazing suggestion again. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person