The Sagacious Woody

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Behold! The old beardy hunches over his pot – He licks up, in broad daylight, his damp woods stewed hot! He shakes his head, keeps muttering hymns like a mage – From his ways, you would think he’s no less than a sage! Blabbers all day long – you’d wonder from where they stem – “The sky’s full of cobwebs, so woods have holes in them.” He raises his bald head and beads of sweat run down, “Nobody can fathom its gravity –” he’d frown, “These foolish dunderheads, to such matters purblind, Don’t seem to take in – always wrangling in their mind. Which wood has more essence – blind to facts such simple – Why on eleventh lunar days, woods get dimple.” Scribbled around all o’er, in fact, is his account Of cracked woods and notched woods – he loses not a count! Which hole tastes delicious, and which hole’s insipid, Which crack gives off fragrance, and which one smells horrid. Clunk! Clank! Clackety-rattle! He knocks wood with wood, And says, “I know which wood in what way gets subdued. Paying a...
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Catching the Thief

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What a shame – Disgraceful! Such terrible crimes befall,
Beyond words, nowadays, outrageous thefts appal.
Just as I take a nap, sharp before the coffee break,
Immensely reduces my food, before I’m awake.
Someone devours it everyday – who I wonder,
And yesterday what happened went beyond a plunder!
Fried cutlets, five, three breads – buttered’n’toasted,
Two large wafers, a packet of almonds roasted,
And there were more – French fries and mayonnaise plenty –
But to my horror, I woke up and found my plate was empty!

 And so today I’m furious, filled with contempt and dislike,
Suffering for all these days, now it’s time to strike!
And hence all day long, I stand alert in cautious mood,
I’ll watch out and catch ’em who come to steal my food.
Whether you’re Tom, Dick or Harry I don’t care –
Whoever you are, I tell you – Stop right there.
Of struggles and fights, without the least fear or dread,
Whoever I find, at once – I’ll slice off their head!
And therefore, I stand hidden, equipped with shield and sword,
Watch out what I do to you – dare step forward.

 Every day I warned you, and still you didn’t pay any heed,
See how I punish you – come on and proceed!
(Bengali original: Chor Dhora)
Translated by Arkajyoti Banerjee

চোর ধরা

আরে ছি ছি ! রাম রাম ! ব'লো নাহে ব'লো না,
চল্‌ছে যা জুয়াচুরি, নাহি তার তুলনা !
যেই আমি দেই ঘুম টিফিনের আগেতে,
ভয়ানক ক'মে যায় খাবারের ভাগেতে !
রোজ দেখি খেয়ে গেছে, জানিনাকো কারা সে,
কালকে যা হ'য়ে গেল ডাকাতির বাড়া সে !
পাঁচখানা কাট্‌লেট‌, লুচি তিন গণ্ডা,
গোটা দুই জিবে গজা, গুটি দুই মণ্ডা,
আরো কত ছিল পাতে আলুভাজা ঘুঙ্‌নি—
ঘুম থেকে উঠে দেখি পাতাখানা শূন্যি !

 তাই আজ ক্ষেপে গেছি—কত আর পার্‌ব ?
এতদিন স'য়ে স'য়ে এইবারে মার্‌ব ৷
খাড়া আছি সারাদিন হুঁশিয়ার পাহারা,
দেখে নেব রোজ রোজ খেয়ে যায় কাহারা ৷
রামু হও, দামু হও, ওপাড়ার ঘোষ বোস্—
যেই হও, এইবারে থেমে যাবে ফোঁস্‌ফোঁস্ ৷
খাট্‌বে না জারিজুরি আঁটবে না মার্‌প্যাঁচ্
যারে পাব ঘাড়ে ধ'রে কেটে দেব ঘ্যাঁচ্‌ঘ্যাঁচ্ ৷
এই দেখ ঢাল নিয়ে খাড়া আছি আড়ালে,
এইবারে টের পাবে মুণ্ডুটা বাড়ালে ৷

 রোজ বলি 'সাবধান !' কানে তবু যায় না ?
ঠেলাখানা বুঝ্‌বি তো এইবারে আয় না !

By Sukumar Ray

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