Monday, September 5, 2011

PREFERRED LIFE

That fish is not happy in the pool
how do you know it , ----eh ?
Sometimes with upward pressure of stream
it appears on the surface ---sometimes
to breath the free air under the blissful sky
and the pent up air of it's lungs
finding vent through the gills --
joyfully effervesces ---or
like to keep afloat ed some time.

Presently, ---to have a feel of it's self
begins to dive-in again -poising on it's fins
or, maybe, goaded by the curious stares around
quietly slips down beyond all gaze

It likes not to be your game
No ! not even by the praise of salivating tongues
and admired - 'delicious ' !
nor even by your singular love for it
assuring a cosy asylum in the Aquarium
and the regular dole of costly meal
bonding with you as 'prisoned'- guest

That is why you say
the little fish is not happy in the pool
How do you know it , --pray ?
[Published (1983) in the book "The Murderedmoon and other poems of Phani Basu from Delhi, India;Translated by Umanath Bhattacharya ]

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