As an homage to the singer Baul Shah Abdul Karim, Prof. Sonjoy transcreates a baul song from Bengali into English. An exclusive for Different Truths.

Without you I cannot survive
Your sweetness fills my empty hive
Keeping me buzzing, happily alive
 
I am the flower friend, the honey bee
Whirring down from the Mahua tree
You entice me to my loot
Labouring in love to bear your fruit.
My love song I softly hum
Whispering in your petalled ear drum.
I am the flower friend, the honey bee
Whirring down from the Mahua tree.
 
If the dark raider does not raid
The secret of your flowery bed
Who will glean your pollened truth
Sip the honey of your youth?
I am the flower friend, the honey bee
Whirring down from the Mahua tree
 
Shedding all my pride and shame
I humbly hum and buzz your name
You tempt me and hide your way
What is this love game that you play?
I am the flower friend, the honey bee
Whirring down from the Mahua tree 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FnWuEi62iQ

Poet’s Note: A Baul song that metaphorically equates the symbiotic relationship between the devotee and the divine; the lover and the beloved: the devotee’s/lover’s yearning for the divine and the divine’s/beloved’s desire for the devotee: Kemone Bhoolibo Taare/ Bachi na Taare Chaaara/ Aaami Phool Bondhu Phooler Bhromora. I pay my homage to Baul Shah Abdul Karim.

Visual by Different Truths

Prof. Sonjoy Dutta-Roy

Sonjoy Dutta-Roy, Professor, Department of English, University of Allahabad, has published three volumes of Poetry. The Absent Words was published by Writers Workshop Kolkata in 1998, followed by Into Grander Space again from Writers Workshop in 2005, followed by Diary Poems and Story Tellers Rhymes by Author House Bloomington, USA in 2012. He is involved with Theatre and has Directed several plays and acted in many including Karnad’s Hayavadana, Elkunchwar’s Autobiography, Mohan Rakesh’s One Day in Aashad and Aadhe Adhure, Tagore’s Dak Ghar and Dattani’s Tara, among many others.