Books Peep Out From The Glass Case Poem by Ravikumar C.P.

Hindi Poem by Gulzar
Translated by C.P. Ravikumar


The bond that we once shared with books
It is now broken

There was a time when
We lay down with a book resting on our bosom
Carried it lovingly in our arms
Placed it on our knees
And read in silent reverence
Forehead touching.

All right, information will still reach us
But I wonder about the dry petals
We used to chance upon
Or the feeble fragrance they left behind?
Relations that were born and nurtured
In the guise of borrowing and returning books,
Dropping them on purpose,
Hurrying to offer a helping hand,
These, I am afraid, will no more stand.