Friday, June 28, 2024

প্রতীক্ষা

 


এই চেয়ারে একদিন বসব কোনদিন ভাবিনি তা,

বারান্দার উত্তর কোণে যেখানে অপরাহ্নে বটগাছের

ছায়াটা লম্বা হয়ে আসে আর আচমকা দক্ষীনা

বাতাস এসে মাধবীলতার ঝোঁপে দোল দিয়ে যায়,

নিঃসঙ্গনিয়ম করেপ্রায় প্রতিটা দিন।

 

এইতো সেদিনকার কথা দাদুকে দেখেছি

ঠিক এই চেয়ারটায় বসাহাত নেড়ে মৃদু হেসে

চশমার ফাঁক দিয়ে এই তো সেদিন,

ছানি পড়া চোখের মৃয়মান দৃষ্টি দিয়ে

ছুটেখেলার মাঠে যাওয়ার পথে দেখেছি আড়চোখে।

 

কেমন করে কাটিয়ে দেয় মানুষ

বসে বসে এক চেয়ারে দিনের পর দিন।

ভেবেছি ছোটা পথে কখনো কখনো,তবে,

বেশিক্ষণ সে ভাবনা থাকতো না মাথায়,

কি চঞ্চল ছিল এই পৃথিবীটা দুরন্ত অস্থির

 

এখন সময় কেমন যেন স্পন্দনহীন,

কিছুই ঘটে না তেমনদিনের পর দিন

কেটে যায় দিন, শুধু সূর্যাস্ত, অন্তহীন,

শুধু অর্থহীন অপেক্ষা দাদুর পুরানো চেয়ারে

কবে আসে নেমে শেষ সূর্যাস্ত,

কৈশোরের আঙিনায়বার্ধক্যের অপরাহ্নে।

 

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Is there a good time to die?

 


                                   Lord, can I have just a few more months,

My grandson only graduated,

The new house I started is not yet ready,

My bank loan is almost paid,

Last deal for my business soon to be signed?

 

The Lord says, so you said ten years ago,

When I sent my angel to bring you home my son,

You said, your son had lost his job,

Your business was not stable, troubles all around,

So much debt you had to pay and no one to help.

And I gave you ten more years.

Life goes on my son, here, or, there!

 

 


Sunday, February 18, 2024

Ah, Time Already?

You never saw your father as he had left your mother,

Even before you came to this world, more a hell so to say!

The day you were born your mother struggled to keep you warm;

Storms howling, the wintery night dark, rain pouring hard,

You were shivering, your mother too in the moist cold.

 

Your Mother did not last long either, before she passed away

She taught you good from bad, the virtues of good, the perils of bad.

On her death bed she said, hear me out my son,

See evil from good, and never choose darkness over light;

Remember, what hurts you hurts others too.”

 

And with these words your mother closed her eyes.

You were so young. Your life was hard, your existence

Depended on the mercy of some good Samaritans,

But you survived, you never strayed from your mother’s teachings

For your mother was a good woman.

  

Your life was not easy, the road was strewn with thorns

Yet you didn’t do what others did in your ghetto, nor did you

Choose your friends from them. You lived a hard but honest life

Stayed away from drugs, never took to stealing

For your mother was a good woman.

 

You struggled hard, chose the road less travelled,

And look where you are now, the heaven that you created

With your bare hands, how you stand tall towering all the minions

Who laughed at you, spat at you, ridiculed you. now beg your favor

But you have a regret, and you wonder!

 

Your time is up, have to go, and you wonder,

What if you stopped and sat down under the shade of a tree,

A few months, years, even decades ago, watched the flowing stream,

Your heaven was beautiful even then. What if you stopped running

And enjoyed your creation, the singing birds in your heaven?

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

When are you enough?

 

Yesterday was such a day, the sun shining bright,

Birds crooning, breeze blowing, flowers dancing in the air.

You looked at your nice car, and the cozy house,

You felt so content, indeed you are enough!

 

Came a long way from the time you were

A struggling sole, walking on your tired legs,

In muddy water, and rain, just for a loaf of bread,

Or two; indeed, you came a long way!

 

But today, you don’t feel the same.

Your neighbor got a flashy car with a nice logo,

And though your car is still good and sturdy

It’s not good anymore, not enough!

 

It’s a new dawn, you have a shiny new car,

A better one by far! You feel the whole again,

What a joy to be one up on your neighbor!

Must Keep up with the Jonoses, always!

 

Your neighbor is not your neighbor anymore

But you feel unhappy; she moved to a bigger house,

In a better neighborhood with a pricy tag.

The neighbor who was not half as good as you?

 

The house that gave so much pleasure only yesterday

Today, all nooks and crannies stare at you.

Your neighbor is not your neighbor anymore

Yet she torments you, make you feel so little!

 

Where does it end, my friend, when?

How far shall you run; how hard shall you blow?

When are you enough my friend, when?

You’re not enough until you think you’re!

Saturday, November 11, 2023

At the gate of the heaven

 



At the gate of the heaven, the Lord Commands:

 “Stop. Answer a question before you step further.”

“Yes, my Lord?”

“Did you fight in the name of your Creator, when you saw injustice around you?”

“No, I did not. I was afraid. They were too strong.”

“Did you protest? Did you go out in the open and speak out?”

“No, I did not. I was afraid. Their army was everywhere.”

“Did you talk to your friends; did you tell them what you felt in your heart?”

“No, I did not. I was afraid. The walls had ears.”

“Then what did you do my child that you shall enter heaven?”

“For every oppressed brother and sister, I went out in the wilderness, 

Shed drops of tears, and cried aloud,

“I am too weak to speak out, but my Lord, please give 

Your Power to them who are strong to do Your work.”

The Lord Smiles, “Come, my child, Enter.”


Tuesday, November 7, 2023

কৃষ্ণগহভর

 


মৃত্যুকে আমি করিনা ভয় সে তো আসে

বন্ধুর মত তার কোমল শীতল স্পর্শ নিয়ে

সমস্ত যন্ত্রণা, ব্যর্থতার হাহাকার, গ্লানি

সব মুছিয়ে দিয়ে নিশ্চিন্তের মতো

মহাকালের গর্ভে চিরনিদ্রায় করাতে শয়ন।

 

আমি ভয় পাই জীবনকে, যার রূঢ় হাত

বারবার ছিনিয়ে নিয়ে গেছে আমার প্রশান্তির

ছোট্ট নীড়, সযত্নে গড়ে তোলা শান্তির আবাস।

গেছে সে ভেঙে বারবার ঝড়ের দুর্দান্ত প্রহসনে

আমার জীর্ণ কুটির অনায়াসে অবহেলে।

 

দেখেছি কি নির্মম তার  রুদ্র অট্টহাসি,

চোখের সামনে কোঠরাগত আঁখি, ছোট্ট নিষ্পাপ শিশু

ধুঁকে ধুঁকে মরেছে আমার অসহায় দৃষ্টির সামনে।

সবলের আঘাতে ভেঙেছে দুর্বলের শরীর বার বার

পথের ধুলায় মিশে গেছে তার করুন আকুতি।

 

তখন মৃত্যু এসে দিয়েছে দুহাত বাড়িয়ে

আয় ওরে কোলে আয়, আমি তো আছি।

আমিই নিয়তি আমিই ভবিষ্যৎ,

আমারি বুকের গভীরে মহাপ্রয়াণ

এখানেই অনন্ত জীবন, আমি কৃষ্ণগহভর।


Monday, October 30, 2023

Still Alive

 



With daylight ending and the sun setting over the blue ocean,

He looked at his garden, the prefect beauty that he created,

On this meadow, with the background of hillocks, intricate structures,

Trees, branches laden with fruits, flowers creating layers of colors,

Perfect with rows of fragrant roses, and myriad shrubs,

Color stolen from a rainbow, shifting in gentle breeze,

Eden on this very earth in the middle of mayhem, the world that is!

 

Just like his long life, carefully planned, neat and secure

Battles won, wars conquered, laurels earned with labor hard, and patience.

“So, life spent well, my job is done, time for a well-earned rest,”

With gratification written large on his smile, he bemused,

How nice it is to come to this moment in time!

 

And then he noticed the gathering clouds on the western sky

Which has covered the sun, taking the twilight away,

The thunders blaring, winds howling ever louder,

A tornado touched down over his field, right in front of his eyes.

His years of toil, his love, his pride, right in front of his eyes,

Gone, in a moment of rage of nature, so unnecessary.

He raised a fist and said, “Well, it’s not time then I guess, but I’m alive!”


Sunday, July 9, 2023

বড়লোক

 

টাকায় যদি হয় বড়লোক

জ্ঞান গরিমায় হয়টা কি?

হোক না স্বভাব যেমন তেমন

ব্যবহারের ধার ধারে না

সবার মুখে তাও বড়লোক

ভুষনে তার দারুন চমক ||

 

কোন সে পথে এলো টাকা

সাদা নাকি সে পথ কালো?

কয়টা ঘরে আগুন জেলে

ভরলো যে তার টাকার ক্ষুধা

কেউ তা শুধায় না, শুধু

টাকার পায়ে সালাম ঠোকে ||

 

বাংলা বল বাংলা শেখো

বিত্তবান বল তাকে

ধনী সেজন মানো তাকে

 নয় সে বড়লোক ॥

 

সত্যিকারের বড় যে সে

নিজেরে বড়ই ছোট ভাবে

নাই গর্ব নাই অহংকার

অসহায়ের ব্যথায় মলিন

হৃদয়টা তার দুঃখে ভরা॥

 

নম্রতায় ভদ্রতায় নেইকো

সমান কোথাও যে তার,

না থাক বিত্ত নাই বা বৈভব

তবু আপনি মাথা আসে নুয়ে

তাহার দেখা পেলে পরে॥