Crossing (“Parapar”) by Abin Roychoudhury

Sitting on the beach of the Blue Lagoon, I will eat Stufat tal-fenek.

While eating Stufat tal-fenek, I will whistle loud and clear,

Hearing my whistle, rabbits will rush out from the woods,

Standing in a circle around my lifeless body...

The dark kohl of the sea will melt, drop by drop, into the waves,

The rabbits will set me adrift upon that water,

Then they will climb aboard and sit upon me—

For I am their cherished little boat...

​

​পারাপার

​

ব্লু লেগুন- এর সমুদ্র সৈকতে বসে স্টুফাত তাল-ফেনেক খাবো।

ফেনেক খেতে খেতে আমি শিশ দেবো জোরে

আমার শিশ শুনে বন থেকে খরগোশেরা ছুটে আসবে

আমার মৃতদেহ ঘিরে দাঁড়িয়ে থাকবে ওরা...

সমুদ্রের কাজল গলে গলে পড়বে জলে

খরগোশেরা ওই জলে আমায় ভাসিয়ে দেবে

তারপর আমার উপর ওরা এসে বসবে

আমিই যে ওদের সেই আদরের নৌকো...

​

Author Bio

​Abin Roychoudhury is a prominent contemporary Bengali poet, writer, and lyricist based in Katwa, West Bengal. He holds a Master's degree and a B.Ed from Burdwan University, and has previously served as a lecturer in teacher-training colleges alongside his career as an independent educator.

​His notable publications include his book Itipurbe Bolini, published by Ananda Publishers—one of the country's leading publishing houses—as well as Golap Nirapekkha Noy and the poetry collection Bibarna Cycle (Shohortoli). He is a regular contributor of poetry to the prestigious Desh magazine, and his poems and essays frequently appear in leading periodicals across India and Bangladesh. Additionally, one of his written songs has achieved widespread popularity across India.

​Recognized for his distinctive literary voice that bridges everyday realism with mystical depth, he is also a recipient of the prestigious Mallika Sengupta Smriti Puraskar.