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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Fracas Frenzied

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That's our crazy Jagai, who comes hither daily,
Mumbling to himself, smiling a smile so gaily.
While walking, stops at sudden, shaken up with start,
Leaps then from left to right with a jolt – in a dart!
Steamed up in frenzy, rolled up sleeves, clenched fists annoyed;
‘Aiyoo!’ he screams, like frantic bashes at the void.
Yells out loud, “Set a trap? Don’t think Jagai will lure –
Seven Huns ’gainst one Jagai, he’ll still fight for sure.”  
Fumed up like frantic, leaping like the jumping jack,
One moment chases front, next moment to the back.
In aimless despair, flings umbrella in air – Fling!
Eyes are shut, maddened amok – like motors spinning.
In a leap wired, becomes tired, perspires in defeat,
Drops with a thud – prostrate on mud – stretched hands and feet.
Throws hand and feet, eyes glazed – shouts in terrible squall,
“Passed away Jagai, struck hard by the cannonball!”
 Soon then fidgeted awhile in frenzied illness,
Original sketch by Sukumar Ray
And his corpse, stiff and cold, sunk in deathly stillness!
Then in haste, sat up with start – scratched his head awhile
Dug hands in pocket, fished out quick his journal file.
Wrote – “Listen Jagai, a gruesome battle was fought,
Finishing five fellows, martyrdom Jagai got.”


(Bengali original: Lorai Khyapa)
Translated by Arkajyoti Banerjee

লড়াই-ক্ষ্যাপা

ওই আমাদের পাগলা জগাই, নিত্যি হেথায় আসে;
আপন মনে গুন্ গুনিয়ে মুচ্‌কি হাসি হাসে ।
চলতে গিয়ে হঠাৎ যেন ধমক লেগে থামে;
তড়াক্ করে লাফ দিয়ে যায় ডাইনে থেকে বামে।
ভীষন রোখে হাত গুটিয়ে সামলে নিয়ে কোচাঁ ;
"এইয়ো" বলে ক্ষ্যাপার মতো শুন্যে মারে খোচাঁ ।
চেঁচিয়ে বলে ,"ফাদঁ পেতেছ ? জগাই কি তায় পড়ে?
সাত জার্মান, জগাই একা, তবুও জগাই লড়ে।"
উৎসাহেতে গরম হয়ে তিড়িং বিড়িং নাচে,
কখনও যায় সামনে তেড়ে, কখনও যায় পাছে।
এলোপাতাড়ি ছাতার বাড়ি ধুপুস ধাপুস্ কত!
চক্ষু বুজে কায়দা খেলায় চর্কিবাজির মত।
লাফের চোটে হাঁপিয়ে ওঠে গায়েতে ঘাম ঝরে,
দুড়ুম ক'রে মাটির পরে লম্বা হয়ে পড়ে।
হাত পা ছুঁড়ে চেঁচায় খালি চোখ্‌টি ক'রে ঘোলা,
"জগাই মেলো হঠাৎ খেয়ে কামানের এক গোলা"!
এই না বলে মিনিট খানেক ছট্ফটিয়ে খুব,
মড়ার মত শক্ত হ'য়ে এক্কেবারে চুপ !
তার পরেতে সটান্ বসে চুলকে খানিক মাথা,
পকেট থেকে বার করে তার হিসেব লেখার খাতা।
লিখলে তাতে- "শোনরে জগাই, ভীষন লড়াই হলো
পাচ ব্যাটাকে খতম করে জগাই দাদা মোলো।"
By Sukumar Ray

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