Bengali Poetry (Translated)

If I Were to Look

If ever it happens,
that I'm aching to kiss you,
I still won't say a thing.

If one day I catch you
in some mistake,
even then I won't ask you to apologize.

If midnight brings tears, and I long to hold you close,
I still won't reach for the phone.

You'll never remember our anniversaries, I know.
I won't complain about this till my last day.

If we ever go somewhere new together,
if you get busy with other things and forget me,
even then I won't say, won't you hold my hand? I feel so alone...

If I ever wear alta on my feet, if one of those online-ordered bindis adorns my forehead,
yet you say nothing at all, I won't ask how I look!

If you ever write praising my beauty,
if I can tell these aren't words from your heart,
I'll stay silent even then.

Whether you miss me or not, love me or not,
whether you liked the payesh I cooked with such care,
whether you feel restless when my heart is heavy,
whether I can call you when I'm lost in indecision...
None of this I'll ever ask you, you can rest assured.

I too have so much to say,
not a soul to listen.
But if you ever have something to tell me
call me, I have time.
I ask for nothing in return,
even if you never have time to be by my side,
I won't reach out my hand, even when tears overwhelm me.

I understand all too well,
if I ever make the mistake
of asking something of you,
once I have it, my heart won't want to keep it.
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