O Chiropronomyo Ogni (O, The Fire of Eternal Homage)

Thanks to Anupam Banerji for the translation of this poem by Shakti Chattopadhyay. We welcome your comments and questions about it. Use this form for contributing your own translation of a poem.
Bengali Version
 O, The Fire of Eternal Homage

O, the fire of eternal homage
Set me ablaze.
First take these legs
Now powerless to dare a step.
Then take these sordid hands
That can no more meet
Love's demands.
Today entrapped in my arms
Are some ice flower bunch.
Today the body shoulders
Only careless onus.
Go ahead and cremate them
In presence of this existence.
Stop for a while
Then burn
The stunned sanctum of wisdom
Silent on life's right and wrong
Quiet on both hues and white.
But protect my eyes,
Perhaps they are yet to witness
A few more things in life.
Take them only when
They have no more tears to shed.
Do not set fire to the corsage
Or to those flower garlands
Unkempt in sweet scent,
For love's caress is still fresh
On their face.
They are unruly, they are free,
Set them adrift in the Ganges.
O, the fire of eternal homage
Set me ablaze.

(Our sincere thanks to Anupam Banerji abanerji@golden.net)

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