Classic Poem

At every instant, this possibility remains:

instead of one footfall, another footfall.
to jump the fence of a particular simile, metaphor, or symbol
and find some other unknown style, meter, or tempo.

instead of one poem, another poem.

instead of one touch, another touch,
in the shadow of a sharpened knife, other comings and goings.
familiar words, exhalations and inhalations, ardor and aversion, deception.

in one kiss, the edge of another kiss.
in one body, another’s red death in fire and decay.

[Translated from Bengali by Prasenjit Gupta]