Shabdaguchha
Shabdaguchha
Syed Shamsul HuqPress BriefingIs it not true that causing so many deaths Finally gave you so little satisfaction? —Three thunder-burned trees are standing On the way of the market. All the paths of the village now start from them. Is it not true that your rivers Still carry new-killed bodies? —In a clear midday, the flocks of hilsa fish in Padma are seen, As also a cheerful wind, and Thousands of boats, you can’t Even see the river for them— Silver harvest will come before dusk. Is it not true that another force Empowers you from behind? —I was awakened the other night by the calls Of a jackal, as I once in my boyhood. The wind whistled in the neighboring bush. It was Lights-out-dark in my room. Nobody else, but my heart Called for my mother Raising both hands, in blackout-fear. Though she was The weakest and oldest one in the whole neighborhood, I thought that I was still her full moon. Syed Shamsul Huq (1935 - ), a poet, novelist and a well known playwright, who contributed to every field of literature. Mr. Huq lived in London for many years where he worked for the BBC Bangla Radio, and later, after going back to Bangladesh, he took writing as his only profession. Mr. Huq is the author of about 200 titles. His recent collection of poetry Ek Lokhho Nokhhotrer Nichey (Under one Hundred Thousand Stars) published in 2007. Translated from the Bengali by Hassanal Abdullah |