This version of the translation: 22.12.2014.
Make him a little more drunk.
Or else this universe
He'll find it mighty hard to bear.
He's only a young man still, Oh Lord.
Well then, to his middle age convert him now --
Or else this universe
Will find him mighty hard to bear.
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Translation-cum-transcreation of a Bengali poem মাতাল (matal, meaning drunk) by Sankha Ghosh. It was published in his collection নিহিত পাতালছায়া (nihito patalchhaya, meaning Hidden Shadow of the Netherworld) in 1967.
Photo of Howrah Bridge
'Sky resounding -- what's this roar for
Fretting and fuming and a ruin of health?
Living itself will make life livable
Dying causes certain death.' --
His eyes lit up with a hint of a twinkle,
As the tipsy signor exhorted thus --
A swig or two need at most be consumed
For what's to be borne -- to be borne sans fuss.
'Perch atop the Howrah Bridge
And search way down or straight upright --
Only two classes you'll get to see
One is daft and the other bright.'
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Translation-cum-transcreation of a Bengali poem পাগল (pagol) by Sankha Ghosh. It was published in his collection নিহিত পাতালছায়া (nihito patalchhaya, meaning Hidden Shadow of the Netherworld) in 1967.
Note: Howrah Bridge is a well-known bridge across the River Hoogly which flows through the city of Kolkata.
By dipankardasgupta
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Posted in English Compositions, Translations-Transcreations to English
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Also tagged a kaleidoscope world, bright, certain death, daft, dipankar dasgupta, dull-witted, howrah bridge, life livable, swig or two, tipsy, twinkle
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