Butterfly, O Butterfly
Butterfly, O butterfly
Your wishes are hard
To Understand
You fly every day
How far away
In which land?
With whom do you play
All the day, all the time
I desire to inquire
Will you tell me, mate
I’m sitting here
To listen all alone!
I see you moving from
flower to flower
Every now and then
You come back again
Even if you are lost.
If I had wings like you
I would fly away
As far as I wish
I would play hide-and-seek
With mother.
Mother started crying
She called my name
She is tired after
Looking for me.
At that moment
I would kiss my mother’s cheeks
Saying, “I’m here
Now sing a song for me.”
“Don’t worry
If I didn’t go away
Could I know
How much you love me,
So I became a butterfly
Without telling you
I had hidden;
Now smile!”
Translated by Fahmida Sharmin
==================================
Many a Time I Wish
Many a time I wish
I should be done with this person or that
Could I do that?
Closing windows and doors
When I come indoors being upset
Suddenly a bird chirps
In the branch of a tree nearby
Could I but laugh?
I open the door immediately
Forgetting about finishing with others
At the sound of the birds singing.
Done, I’m done
I’m done with everyone
I don’t want to talk with anyone
Morning-afternoon-dusk-night
None is my friend-
With such thoughts
I closed the door
When I was quiet, Bhola the dog
Would start barking
Could I resist anymore?
I go to stroll with Bhola
Around the neighbourhood.
Done, I’m done
I’m done with everyone
I would spend my time alone
Whether day or night.
We like it a lot at home
I’m thinking something terrible,
Exactly at that moment at my doorsteps
They start calling my name
All my friends like the birds
I go outside hearing this
With a smile like sunshine.
Could I resist?
I forget about finishing with everyone.
Translated by Fahmida Sharmin
========================
For My Mom
I draw—
sailing boats
green birds
Undulating river
runs forever.
I draw—
woods, flowers
roads take turn
butterflies
clouds freely churn.
I draw—
bamboo-bridge
homestead afar
what to draw, what to bar!
I draw—
dazzling sun
grass, dew-drops
bows giving crops.
Even then—
no completion,
I fail to draw
that I plan to
with much attention.
Only once—
I feel as if
I drew everything;
paper and brush
keep away from
when I draw my Mom.
Translated by Mahbub Siddiki
=========================
King of the Kings
Neither do we have
a crown or jewel, nor
a king’s attire
Yet we’re
king of the kings
who doesn’t care?
We do have
kingdom that negates
any border
Ground, river
forest, ocean
arranged in an order.
King-subject custom
not valid
in this land
Under tree remains
our simple throne
grand.
We don’t have
chaos here
dividing the throne
We only
create chorus
within our zone.
Neither do we have
domination
nor fear
Days pass by
everyone
being very dear.
Our chorus
removes night
ushers
bright dawn
For this land
we’re ready
keeping life a pawn.
Translated by Mahbub Siddiki
