The Palanquin-Bearers Poem by Bijay Kant Dubey

Black, black palanquin-bearers
Chewing paan into their mouth
And with the red lips
Taking the palanquin away
Over their shoulders
And the small countrified bride,
Girl bride sitting over
Into the ghumta
Going to an unknown destination
And the carriers singing,
Singing the song
To lessen the journey of the way
And fatigue,
Black, black palanquin-bearers
With the small daughter
As the child bride
Going her in-laws' house.

With the small wooden doli,
Palalquin over the shoulders
The bearers bearing and taking away,
Away the bitia, small countrified childish daughter
As the child bride to her father-in-law's house,
The small daughter as the bride
Unaware of marriage to an unknown destination
The carriers, the palanquin-carriers
Singing the song,
Bearing the way long journey and fatigue
Black, black palanquin-bearers
Singing the song
And going
With the doli, small doli
Over the sholders
With a small little village bride
Cloy and shy.