On the corner of East Street the Ferry Rigg
keeps history alive with its name
though the vista to South with a century past
will never now quite be the same
For once cross the Adur the ferryman pulled
his oars for the people to cross
from the beach to the town for business and such
with a gain to the past and our loss
Caught a last glimpse on the river at dusk
of the sun as it ended the day
the evening came fast
now the daytime was past
and I couldn't expect it to stay
So I watched as the river down there in the gloom
slowly turned on the tide
as the night time set in
meeting there with my grin
which like it was silent and wide
In Lewes on the river path
we walked beside the Ouse
watched it flow in from the sea
meandering to use
That aged water, aged flow
o'er many years has seen
and where along its grassy banks
many souls have been
In Lewes Wolfgang, Sal and I
in spite of summer rain
walked up beside the river
as we are back here again
That aged water, aged flow
cathartic here today
releasing the endorphins
in every single way
I wrote this poem in my mother tongue, Axomiya(Assamese) a few days back and posted in my blog (http://www.fleetingmuse.wordpress.com) on July 26, 2018. I have a few Bengali friends from my college days with whom I share my poems. Whenever I share a poem written in Assamese with them, I try to translate that to Bengali for their benefit. I do not claim any strength in writing in Bengali. So if any of my reader finds my Bengali translation inadequate, I apologise. Constructive criticism is appreciated as that will help me to improve my translation skill in future.
I translated the poem to English and sharing all the three versions here, English followed by the original Assamese and then the Bengali translation.
If I am swept away someday
In an emotional deluge
Please stand by me
Be my rock
A pillar of patience
At Kew by the water
The Thames is quite low
It’s still early morning
and the river is slow
Time for respite
and peace by the trees
with only the sound
of birds in the leaves
The glare was quite brilliant
from the bridge with the blue
and the sunshine so bright
that it looked almost new
The river was brimming
the tide really high
with soft wavelets lapping
as I wandered by
And I am a community
fascination here to pique
All along the river bank
quirky and unique
Houseboats here in residence
tradition to bizarre
Conformity is alien
I’m not particular
Even in the allegedly flat valley
The river ran boiling over its rocky bed
Looking out of our cabin window
I could see white electric splashes of water
Gashing along in evening gloom
Sitting in the sunshine
by the river at high tide
A seagull came and perched
on the railings by my side
We had a little chat
as it seemed the thing to do
Passing a few pleasantries
before away he flew
I am tranquility and more
my voice a soothing balm
Shining I reflect the sun
to bring you peace and calm
I am river flowing free
my waters smooth and still
Come stay a while and breathe me in
until you’ve had your fill
There’s a boat on the river
that’s sad and bereft
For I’m sorry to say
there’s not a lot of it left
Abandoned to fate
several years ago now
It’s slowly been fading
from its stern to its bow
Shiny shiny
the river today
as slow to the sea
it ebbs on its way
On the footbridge I pause
and soak up the sun
on this wonderful morning
as the day is begun
Mill Hill in the sunshine
on a perfect July day
The river in the valley
and the hills across the way
We’re the only people up here
so the silence is complete
Just the panting of our little dog
and the tramping of our feet
There’s an echo on the water
at this quiet time of day
as the river slowly flows
before the world comes out to play
Silently I stand and breathe
and smile at what I see
For this really is a special place
where I am fortunate to be
Reflected in the River Thames
the blue of a March sky
still and peaceful water there
as I walk slowly by
Underneath the overground
at Kew, West London way
walking by the river
on an early Springtime day
On the river at Shoreham
the water is clear
In this place that I love
and hold very dear
The boats on the mudflats
with the tide on the turn
Lie at rest by the pontoons
with bow against stern
Poet's Corner 