Poems

Counting the FishSixteen fish, Saluye—two slipped off and ran away!Still fourteen left, right?Two were taken by the cat-doctor.Still twelve remain, yes?Two more vanished.So ten...

Astonishing TalesOh you wild greens,is this how justice works in your land—mice catching cats and eating them?Listen, Mother Bhagabati—a goat has swallowed an elephant,and...

The Son-in-LawMother, oh mother—your son-in-law has come!He’s gone to bathewith only a taro leaf on his head!I gave him oilto rub on his body—he...

KokoteKokote says,“I’m sitting in this tree;any child who cries—I grab him by his little bundleand dance with him!”

Pyak-Pyak-PyakAcross the river stands a sesame plant,its seeds rustling jhur-jhur.Beneath it, my mother lightsher blessed Lakshmi lamp.My mother, with matted hair,is sweeping the house;my...