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I go near a tree and utter:


Oh kind tree, can you provide me a poem?


The tree replies, if you can penetrate my bark


And amalgamate with my marrow, then


Perchance you will unearth a poem.


 

Into the ears of a putrefying wall I murmur:


Oh wall, can you provide me a poem?


The antiquated wall says in a moss-thickened voice,


If you are able to crush yourself into this brick and mortar, then


Perchance you will unearth a poem.


 

I go near an old man, kneeling down,


Oh aged one would you please provide me a poem?


Tearing apart the curtain of silence the astute voice utters- if


You can carve the wrinkles


Of my face


On yours one, then    


Perchance you will unearth a poem.


 

For a few verses of poetry alone


How long should I kneel down before this tree,   


Decrepit wall and the old man?

 

Tell me, how long?

Author's Notes/Comments: 

This poem is translated by me. It was originally written in Bangla by Shamsur Rahman, a poet, columnist and journalist from Bangladesh. He authored nearly sixty books of poetry. He is one of the brightest stars in Bengali literature. The themes his poetry and writings mirror are- moderate humanism, romanticised insurgence of youth, human relationships, hatred towards superstitious beliefs and so on.

 

Most of Shamsur Rahman’s poems are written in free verse especially with the rhythm mode called Poyaar or Okhshorbritto. He also wrote verses in two other major patterns i.e., Shwarobritto and Matrabritto.

 

At present, Shamsur Rahman is remembered as a bona fide artist of the Bangali psyche. He has penned more than 3000 breathtaking poems that will continue to enthuse his devotees now and also in the days to come. Due to the heart and kidney failure, Shamsur Rahman had been in a coma for 12 days and breathed his last on 17 August 2006 at the age of 77.  

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©17 August 2016 - 3:01pm — KingofWords