The village bride

Translated by Kazi Rafiqul Islam
Written in Bengali: Bithi Rahman

The new bride in her veils moves to bring water,
Looks on the path with her lovely black eyes.
Sweet smile on the shy lips
The palace of dream seems to be within reach.
With a flower in her lock of cloudy hair
She walks along the village path on her golden feet.
No gold ornament in her body, still she shines.
The mother-in-law is like her mother; so she says
Let not the sun spoil your golden body.
Still she has to go to the pond to take bath
She is proceeding with a pitcher on her lap.
Also she will cook the items of her choice.