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

Prof Sonjoy Dutta Roy retired as Professor/Head, Department of English, Dean of Arts, and Coordinator of Centres for Theatre/Films and Media Studies at the University of Allahabad. Senior Fulbright Visiting Professor at UC Berkeley, Fellow at Louisiana State University, and UGC Visiting Fellow at Jadavpur University. His papers on theatre/poetry featured in leading journals. Over three decades, he directed Indian/American plays and lectured at UC Berkeley, UConn, Tufts, and more. Poetry collections: The Absent Words (1998), Into Grander Space (2005), Diary Poems (2012), and the forthcoming Of Blood and Book. Poems shortlisted by the British Council, the Poetry Society of India, Chandrabhaga, and Kavya Bharti. He is our National Editor: Academics.