Sunshine piercing my skin, I saw you cross the acacia trees
You were leaving, but the boat had already left.
You looked back just once, but all around you
There were strong sunbursts driving nails into my eyes.

Worries gush out, blasts of salty air dislodge
The ancient butterfly totem; I become a pariah
In the realm of my own toppled dreams;
And you disappear, holding onto someone's strong hand.

I roam among the trees, ravines and cataracts, disoriented;
I lived for a while among the animals like a beast.
O where is the lost world of witches, demons, dwarfs and fairies,
And the Beauty, who is nowhere to be found? Who can tell?

Night follows night, day breaks in between.
Wild cherries proclaim your name in the forest.
Slapping my chest I rush there, but alas! I am late.
I lose you just for a moment's delay.

Once again I crawl and creep; on my head lands a volcano's debris.
It's time for me to sneak back to my cave.
Let this story be consumed by fire, or lie buried behind, as it wears
The false guise of the memorized parable of Beauty and the Beast.

Translated from Bangla by Syed Manzoorul Islam