Fatimah Bi, the graduate from the slums

12 o’clock

Mother, I do want to leave off my lessons now.

I have been at my book all the morning.

You say it is only twelve o'clock.

Suppose it isn't very late;can't you ever think

it is afternoon when it is only twelve o'clock?

I can easily imagine now that the sun has reached

the edge of that rice-field, and the old fish-woman is

gathering herbs for her supper by the side of the pond.

I can just shut my eyes and think

that the shadows are growing darker

under the madar tree, and the water

in the pond looks shiny black.

If twelve o'clock can come in the night,

why can't the night come when it is twelve o'clock?

Rabindranath Tagore