Because I could not tell anyone,
The stories of my fantasy world (Kalpaloka),
All my imagined sins and flaws
Now make my mind spin in contemplation.
Under the spell of a sorcerer’s magic and bodily illusions,
Wandering through the beautiful, dense forest,
Struck by the bow of the desired, beautiful woman,
I burn away in the fires of passion.
Blending infamy, bad logic, and ugly words
Into the sweet fragrance of the white jasmine (Kunda) flower,
You, the night-lotus (Kumudini) of the moonlit pond,
Acted as a skillful enchantress.
In the auspicious morning dew,
You are the bud of the white water-lily (Kalhara).
O flowing river (Kallolini), along the course of your surging waves,
You came and brought me glorious fame.
— Ratnamaya Tripathy
Adhyayana, Balangir
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Original Odia : Ratnamaya Tripathy
Translated by : Dr. Khyatimaya Tripathy
This specific poem by Ratnamaya Tripathy is a brilliant stylistic showcase of “Ka-Anuprasa” (Alliteration of the letter ‘K’ / କ-ଅନୁପ୍ରାସ). In traditional Odia poetry (like Upendra Bhanja’s Baidehisa Bilasa), writing verses where every single word begins with the same letter is a highly revered classical feat.
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