Yearning

Step down from you throne, girl
It’s just this game of flowers
I’m waiting in this ancient hall
We’re waiting for the showers

There’s a train coming down
Let us take the ride
You can wear my golden crown
By the riverside

There’s a sad fountain by the flame
Where pigeons burn their dreams
And faces of them who had no name
Chant their divine hymns

Rain to wash these purple nights
The king of toads, I hear him croak
Lonely windows in pale-green lights
Whisper their death in ash and smoke

Soothe my wounds as they burn
Touch this fire with your fingers
Battles to fight, pages to turn
Everything stays, everything lingers


Just this lonesome banquet moon
And this blanket, it hides the past
The tree is new, it’ll flower soon
Let’s gift our sighs to the fog and dust

There’s a sunset that talks of us
Candles wage their forlorn war
There’s a temple with tinted glass
Worshipped by the morning star

As a child I lost my way
And I wandered by this unknown lake
Let’s us bow, let us pray
With miles to go and promises to make

I give to you my unsung songs,
My fading words, dead and gone,
I give you my heart, to you it belongs
In the choir of this broken dawn

Nights to weave my pain and sighs
The silent sea, cold and blue
Sheds her tears when a sailor dies
But all my songs are just for you


My attic floor with flowers strewn
Awaits your mint in my breath
Like a piano played out of tune
Leaves die their thousandth death

Take my faith, take my heart
And all the words I never wrote
Tear the curtains wide apart
And take this river where lilies float

Step down from your throne, girl
Step down to my arms
Let this flag of life unfurl
Drown me in your charms

It’s cold in here, it’s very cold
And all the words are spoken
All the portraits have been sold
And everything else is broken

I want you in the snow
I want you in the rain
In the wild river’s flow
And in all my throbbing pain

I want you in my sleep
I want you in my dreams
In waves that run so deep
In a thousand mountain streams

I want you in the skies
I want you in the mud
And in the poison of disguise
That seeps through my blood




So come here, to this haunted place
This magic lamp – it glows for you
And tear these masks off my face
And kiss my lies to make them true….

Daag

Kothao ochena ghurni-joley daag ketey rekhechhilo bhalobasha
Purono kshotor mato boye niye jetey hobey boley
Nodii -totey jegey chhilo shukha purnima-jochhna,
Aar bubhukku kichhu kritodash

Bohudin khNujechhi, purono rong tuli haatey, bohudin
Bohudin raat jegey bhebechhi,
Jey morubhumi kakhono bujhhi ba shomudro hobey
Bohudin ayenar shamney dNariye
nijer mukho-mukhi haoar bYartho procheshta korechhi….

Ghumotey cheyechhilam.
Keu bojhheni.
Guptodhoner khNojey pranponey mati shoriyechhi
Beriye eshechhey rashi rashi konkaal.
Deoal bhangtey cheye gumrey gumrey tolpaar korechhi jantronagulo
Nishthur tikhno prohori-ra shudhu dekhey gYachhey, sthir, apolok

Oder gaye takhon shomoyer ispat-kothiin barmo.











Hothhat!
ekdin jhhor elo.

Noditey notun dhheu.
shagor uthal-pathal.
morubhumi tolpaar


Purono ra bhengey gYachhey bodh hoy. Kintu notunera kothaye?

Ami ekhono opekkhaye achhi.
Ebarey hoyto chash hobey, abad hobey, notun phashol pholbey

Akashey atoshbaajir mala:
Notun shahorey bujhhi ba aaj moha-nishkromoner raat!






Shudhu shei raatrir nikosh kaalo pithhey
ekhono koyekta chabuker daag dYakha jachchhey!

Apologies and Explanations

It’s funny the way they sell their promises to postcards
and decide to pack up. And leave their violins behind
Oceans spread out, Rivers widen.
And then they tear those tears from eyes and press
them between words and pages to preserve them,
Do they do the same with flowers?
and so many of them have got roots and wings at the same time,
it’s not even funny.
A bit of carelessness, and the gun goes off….
Leave your hair open. There! You’re the poster girl now!
Boats dress themselves up. Strange contours
They’ve sent a new garrison now. It’s raining.
Once. Twice.
Clawing it’s way through the clock, the cat
Sudden shivers. Blood. There’s an old man in my neighbourhood
who visits cathouses every night. There’s an old moon in the sky.
Elves dance in moonlight, or so they say.
Damp hotelrooms. Lamps. Fog. Frogs.
I don’t know why, at times, everything seems broken.
And people seem to be hiding behind their Turkish baths
as mad hawks and ghouls and lost promises and false tears and
naked nymphs and torrid patterns and ashes of words and silent symphonies
and naked nymphs swipe down from the clouds with paper-swords in hand


They blew their trumpets, they blew their noses
They grew their tulips, they grew their roses
They knew their Jesus, they knew their Moses
So what’s the time when the gate closes?

And the crowd gathers. They pull the burning child from the fire
They save the child. The child wanted to become a tree.
The child was beautiful once. Now his skin is burnt. Beauty is skin deep.
Now, he is more “it” than “he”. The child grows up with scars.
One day he sets the town on fire. All the people die. Burnt.
The child lives. Burnt.
(of course, he’s a child no more. A normal child grows up to be a man
or a woman. A burnt child grows up to be a demon. Anyway.)

Damn Fun!
So when will you call me again? I’ll bring flowers for you next time we meet.
What flower do you like most? Oh, and what shall its colour be? Yes baby,
I love you too. Let me kiss you. Once. Ah, thank you. Now go to hell.

The Judge and the Jury are skeletons.
So beware!
it seems like skeletons smile all the time,
but expert evidence says that skeletons can not smile. Beware!
There’s a cloud looming over the city. Beware!
The Gods are angry because they’re dead. Beware!
Much blood shall flow. Beware!
I’m wearing a fake mustache and I’m not my uncle. Beware!


I'm not you. You're not me. That's where it begins.
And that's where it should ideally end.

Haha, you’re funny. Your teeth are funny. Your tongue is funny.
And this is not out-of-context pornography.
Neither is this some digitally enhanced illusion.
It’s just a good old mirror
And it’s for real
And I’ll sell it to you if you shoot at me.
Is this a new disguise? I reckon so.

Well, it’s nice to hear that you still believe in blank pages.
But if I tear you down and feed you to the dogs, will you still be believing?
But then, what’s a typo: “dog” or “god” ? eh?

I can go now. I won’t.

Beats me why I’m writing this shit at two thirty in the morning.
Maybe I was trying to explain a few things when I started writing this, or
it might be so that I was just planning to stuff everything in the same wagon and then to push it off the cliff.
As you can presently see, I’ve failed. Miserably so.
Maybe I won’t write a single word ever again.

That’s enough I guess.
Another day, another time.




P.S.: In the last seven or eight lines, I’ve used the word “I” nine times. Now that’s what my dictionary calls ego




P.P.S.: Beware! .

Kritodash

Ekhaneo bonbhojon hoy
Odbhut ayojoney
Goponiyo proyojoney

Ekhane ekhono onek manush ashey
Onek gaan, pakhi
Shob kichhu nibhey geley
Megh-shNidur, sMriti bidhur
Machhranga, eka eka tiirey

Kakhono ki takiyechho phirey?

Noditey jol nei, phatol,
teshta, jYotsna,
shikorey adim pokader basha,
Artonaad
Prarthona
Manusher gham
Manusher dhheu
shYaola-deoal-jolchhobi
Bonyo-dhunki-nartoki
Madoley matal bol
Utshob, kalorol
Shaboley morchey
Brishti porchhey
Notun bon-srijoney
Klibotwye, shammohoney…..

BYatha dhekey rakho, dana dao
Gaan dao,
Dukkho dao, shukh dao
shobuj,
Shobuj dao

Bhikkha chaitey amio bhalobashi
Esho, nijeder bhikkha korey ni

Taarpor notun deshey jaabo

Plastic Rain

Once there was a flower
And a lion so wild
Talked to the storms
And smiled like a child

The moon takes his walking stick
Ambles away, sad and old
The forests are all ablaze
Elephants made of gold

But why don’t you touch?
And why don’t you sing?
Try, lady, it won’t hurt that much
The snow and that other sad thing

Breathe, lifeless, you be blessed
Breeze for life; death and thirst
It’s a snake, and it’s two-faced
Never mind, I came out first

See the lights? It’s a train!
Take me to a world that turns
Winter rain, winter rain,
Give to me a fire that burns!

But where shall I go?
It’s a small town
And I’ll get to know
When the joker steps down


Soldier’s made of stone
Must the skies be grey?
What’s there left to own?
Did she turn away?

And many faces stare
And slaves rush to light
Will you stay there?
In the old cold night

Wither away, pretty flower
Dancing rivers and blue
And then comes the hour
When eyes become true

Once dead, twice reborn
Candles pale and thin
Lonely pages must be torn
If I have to win

There’s a sniper on the beach
And a desert by the stairs
The sky is out of reach
But no one really cares

Posters never lie
But they never talk
Roosters never sigh
Ring the bell, don't knock

Too much foam and froth
The guns never fired
The flame loves the moth
The moth is way too tired

There’s nothing we can say
So let’s just wait for the day
If you wish so, you can tell
The tales of those who fell

Happy life!

Ayena

Ayena jurey hothhat shuni sMritir kana’kani
Oder ekhon notun prashad, notun Raja-Rani!
Akash takhon jol-thhoi thhoi nijhhum sroter daak
Golpora shob nibhley bolo, “ektukhani thhak”

Tarporey shei ghumer ghorey ujaan dhheu-e bhasha
Hirey-manik khNujbo boley i eikhane-tey asha
Kakhon taara shanto holo, thamlo bNashiir shur?
Kothaye thako Rajkonye? Kon shey ochiin-pur?

Raat jodi pher anmona hoy,alga megh-er taaney
amio takhon ashbo nahoy, ghumparanii gaaney!
Ayena jurey hothhat shuni sMritir kana’kani
Abar kobey brishti hobey, kichhui ki tar jani?

It's Like That Only

It’s 2:22 by my laptop
Show me your altar
I’ll worship you,
Now

It’s this, this mirror,
(or is it just another photograph meant to poison the fools?)
And erotic and blue
And smoke, and snakes
All around

This face, that face
These faces.
Night
Bring me the cold,
The water
So many useless promises
And candles and strains
Of music, dead music
Dead stars, dead insects….
Life….Night….Life….




I take off my mask
And here I stand
And now
I worship you
Show me your altar,
It’s time
The Milky Way is on fire
The streams are wild
It’s this. Life. Swim
Stream, stream
Downstream,
Up, Upstream
Here. We. Go

There!

It’s 2:28 by my laptop
Six minutes since the first flicker
An eternity since the first drop
The last. The first
And the wheel
Still life
Still, life

The Cowboy Rides Out

Riding on this little horse,
Riding out of town,
Chewed the bacon and licked the sauce,
The sun’s going down.

Wine gives you hope and joy,
And water makes you drown!
Oh I am just a little boy
And I’m riding out of town!

Mother said be careful, lad,
Father said, be strong,
Sister said that she’ll be sad,
And she wrote to me a song

I have a little girl of mine
And she loves me too;
In her eyes dewdrops shine,
I’ll miss her thru and thru

Little bells, I hear them chime,
The distant seems so hazy,
It’s not the time, it’s not the time,
Oh it’s not the time to be lazy!

The road ahead, it is rough,
I must ride it through;
Doesn’t matter, I’m brave enough,
I have my pistol too!

If enemies stand in my way,
I will fight them out,
Well I’ve got my words to say,
I have my foes to rout!

It might snow, it might rain,
The sun might beat down strong;
I have to bear all this pain,
For I must ride along!

I’ll miss the town, I’ll miss my home,
I’ll miss the ones I love,
But I’m riding to the thunder-dome,
I’ll touch the skies above!

Well at times I’ll be weary enough,
At times I’ll be sad;
Often, I know, things get tough
But life’s not all bad!

So roll along, little horsie,
Charge through the night -
There’s a world for us to see,
With fires burning bright!

Crumbs, Little Crumbs

Brothers of peace, tall they stand
Sisters of peace, flowers in hand
Wizard of peace, he has his wand
And Noah has his little arc
Deep inside, it is dark
And I’m a skylark

……………………………………………………………………

………………………..

Electric, stop, lilies, blue
Touch the earth, it still is true
Night weaves her stories too
And stories become dreams
And glories and their screams
Fading Gods, fed by hymns
The heart stops, the vision dims

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

And stillness bore her second child
The night was young, the light was wild
I was, I am, painted
Tainted
People need
Shepherds to lead
Heroes to bleed
Wombs to seed
Lovers to plead
Battles to breed
Cattle to feed
And Greed.

…………………………………………………………………… ………………………..

Step down from that ancient throne
Step down from the twilight zone
You’re naked, you’re all alone
With bones made of telephone
That never rings, never sings
And never talks of queens and kings
And little puppets with broken strings

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

Lotus, in my mind
Lotus, cold, unkind
The highway to the lake
Coiling like a snake
Don’t worry, I am fake,
Take my bread, take my cake
And shoot me down, for heaven’s sake

…………………………………………………………………… ………………………

Give me your hands
Gift me your breath
I give you my sands
I’ll gift you my death

…………………………………………………………………… ……………………….

Evening falls like a dead orphan
Bury the child, o yes, you can
Shut her eyes, else she’ll stare
Kiss my skies, I won’t be there

…………………………………………………………………… ………………………


Little dots, haze, blur
The fog, the headlight, and the car
Driving to the morning star
It rains, it snows
It pains, the pain goes
Pull the chain, and the train slows

…………………………………………………………………… ……………………….

Goliath Goliath bound in steel
And li’l David goes for the kill
I had a girl, I lost the girl
I had a flag I couldn’t unfurl
She broke the oyster, she stole the pearl

And those elephants made of gold
I saw them being sold
And dying – homeless, hungry, and cold
I could’ve stopped, but I didn’t see
You can be sorry, but you needn’t be

…………………………………………………………………… ………………………

What’s so big in sorrow?
Well it’s easy to be sad
What worries more is tomorrow
The night is long, the fire is mad

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

White-sailed ships, let ‘em float
I have my own little blue boat
Just that I’ve lost my oars
The lion roars!

…………………………………………………………………… ………………………..

Magic fountains,
By tragic mountains
I am white
I am the night

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

Love, petals, tender –
Bloom!

And in my room,
Postcards with pictures to send her
Never sent
Nothing to repent

And as she went
To pick the flowers
From our tent
We saw the towers!

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

Two sisters with golden hair
Hand in hand, they’re standing there
But Midas touched them long ago
I shall go and kiss their shadow

But the only gift from Abel and Cain
Is this poison eating my vein
But then again,
It’s the rain
Insane
Incense
Intense
intents…

Nonsense!

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

Blankets and planchettes by the river
Rolling by, roll, leaves, breeze, shiver
Happy hopes,
And lanterns and ropes
Blue, pale,
Dreams for sale
With ginger ale
And tales to tell,
We fell
Fall
Enthrall
All.

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

But did we leave a trail,
Or was it just the wishing well?
………………………………………………………………………………………………

Never mind, it’s time to sleep
Sink, deep….

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

It’s all about the mind
Old, cold and blind
Hiding behind
The head,

Bled
For the razor-blade

But am I dead?
or is it just the red
from the warrior’s eyes
bleeding blatant lies
and bidding vacant good-byes ?

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

I’ve seen God
But must I worship too?
Aaron took his rod
And headed for the loo
Oh please, leave a clue!

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

The Sun came into Being
Inside our coops and chambers
Seeing
The embers
She remembers
The kisses that were traded
For promises which were dreaded
Long faded,
Long,
Oblong
And the longing to belong…..

…………………………………………………………………… ………………………..

All the craze
All the haze
Those days
These days
Soft, gaze
Graze,
Hays
Cow,
Somehow,
Anyhow….

…………………………………………………………………… ………………………..

Words, flying
Birds, dying
Empty, high
A single lie
Created, and cremated
Everything.
Songs – sing
Bells – ring

…………………………………………………………………… ………………………..

Night, lonely, grey
Nothing to say

Morning, dewy, blank
The ship sank

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

Kings and Queens
Beneath the ruins
Jack and Aces
Going places
But poor little dream
Needs a bit of steam

And a stream
Filled to the brim!

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

Run! Fast! Bolt! Thunder!
Guilt, fear, and the single blunder
Candles melt
where we had knelt
long before
I’d closed my door…
Too much blood, too much gore…

So what’s the score?

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

This is
A disease
Of symbols
Clashing, crashing cymbals
To welcome
And become
The screams
From severed limbs
And the arrival
Of a new rival!

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

Beneath the wall
Mosses/Moses
Above
Crosses

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

Mirth. People clapped
Not knowing they were trapped

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

Shops
Sold crops
Gold drops
Little seeds
Brittle beads
Bangles and deception
Angles of reception
Angels with wings
And other shiny things

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

But the blue from the Nile
Has its own style
So wait for a while
And you’ll see my smile

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………..

Soldiers, tired,
Soldiers, fired
Missed their mark
In the dark

…………………………………………………………………… ………………………….

So here we are, once again
The old has died, the new shall begin
A new play in the old stage
A new day, and a bold age
So hold my hand, hold it tight
And we shall take the magic flight
To the world of Light,
Light!

…………………………………………………………………… ……………………….

Onek Purono Garto

Onek purono garto hNa korey
Haah haaah korey
Bhoyal raktokutil chokhey
Hingsha aar raktey maka-makhi
dNat-nokh
Teebro kshoto niye
Onek purono garto,
hNa korey
Haah Haaah korey



Kintu bairey, takhon chNad uthhechhilo
Nirbikar chNad.

Arekta Ratrir Koutuhol

Eto kichhu dhorey rakha kashtokor
pNajorer bhitorey lukiye

Jeykhaney nodiir jol dhheu eney dYay
Pagoler moto chitkaar korey haoa

Eto kichhu koshtokor jeebondharoney bNadha
Chhutey asha, bNadh bhengey, alor bhitor
Ghurni-poka r naach

Aar shob aagun nibhey geley, klanti,
Klantikor klanti…..

..........................

.......................................................................................



Shomudro shomudro tolpaar, shomudro ke daako
Taake bolo, shob kichhu phiriye ditey,
Aoaj ke bolo, aagun hao, porao, ami purchhi,
Tumi poro,
Poro rong-chota raat ta ke shongey niye
Poro jeyshob shwapno gulo dekhtey bhuley gYachho taader niye
Britha onushondhan, dhulokadaye, klibotye,
Britha onushondhan, jibonmrito taarar chhai dekhey,
Payer chhap, bali, rongeen atoshbajir isharey….

.......................... ............................................................

Ekhono amader moto morichikara hothhat shotyi hoye othhey
Aar e’par thekey o’par, gohiin, taposhya, Sisyphio….

.......................... ...............................................................



Hothhat jeyshob bheeshon teshta ra gola chepey dhorey
tumi ki taader i ekjon?
Naki tumi obak-shondhye, alor mala?

.......................... ...............................................................................


JYamon nodii achombitey paar bhengey dYay,
Ami tYamon korey chinbo tomaye, chenao

.......................... ...............................................................................


Bhasha bandho hoye geley shabdo ra bNechey thakey,
Aar shabdo oshar hoye geley, Akshouhini okshorera

Okshorera asholey jomat bNadha rokter daag, jara
ghatoker teebro chhurir pholay hothhat nechey othhey,
Otto-hashi shona jaye majhhey majhhey

..............................................................................................................

Kanna-r bhiruta ora chokh diye dhekey rekhechhey

.......................... ..............................................................................


Jadukor, ebar tomar khYala dYakhao!
Karon shob kichhu purey geley koyekta
chhara-chhara proshnochinho porey thakey

Aar jara matha tultey bhoy paye, taader merudando-gulo
Mohiruho hoye dNariye othhey…..

.......................... .....................................................................................


Ja achhey dWongsho hotey dao,
Bhengey churmaar hoye jetey dao shomosto ichchhey ebong
ichchhey-puroner rojnaamcha gulo ke

Taarpor,
Taarpor amra klanto hobo
Tarpor amra amader gheratop khNujey nebo….

.......................... .......................................................................................


Kintu nijer gaan ki shesh-kaaley nijekei gaitey hobey?

Hijibiji: Raat jegey syllabus shesh korar after-effect

Shokaley akash chhai
Ghum nai, ghum nai,
Akashey shomuddur
HNetechhi onek dur
KhNuji ni megher koley
Abir koutuholey
Jachhai korar pala
EibYala, oibYala

Ekhono bNechei achhi
ShMoshaner kachhakachhi

Tai boli shuney rakho
Praan bhorey taakey dako
Shob niye shukhey thako
Jodi shey na ashey tao
Methho shurey gaan gao
Kichhu toh paabey kothao
Hisheber khata-ta-o
lukiye rakhar noy!

Agochhalo hotey hoy
Majhhey majhhey petey hoy
Dukkho kimba bhoy

Megher neel-chey bhhNajey
Oi shono bashii baajey
Gopon pNajorey joma
Na kora onek kshoma
Brishtitey obhiman
Geye jabey taar gaan
Ochena ujaani shurey
Bheshey jao aaro durey

Ekhono bishad-ranga
Klanti kumir-danga
Ekhono tomar kotha
Ratri jaagar bYatha
Jegey thako Kojagor
Shwopner Sh'odagor
Ek muthho kobitaye
Aye aye ghum aye....


Kobita hariye geley brishti themey jaye, bNechey thakar odbhut bYapar-shYapar-gulo ghumiye porey……

Brishti tey bishwash rakho, aar bhor-bYalar akashey, jhhapsha, chhai-chhai, elomelo…..

A Tale of Two Sisters

Life

Down in a blue café with grey walls
I dream
I pray
As time waits behind the clock like a bird of prey:
Waiting for me to fall asleep



…………………………………………………………….

Death

I’ve forgotten where the doors are
And I’ve forgotten what insects do when they go near the flame

Okay, so I’m a tortoise turned upside down,
But what are you? Huh?

Letters from an obstinate garden

I didn’t mean what I had meant
I haven’t seen what you had sent
Doesn’t matter, fear the fire
Put it out, put it out…..

“Oh, c’mon!

Old pictures, tired, sad,
Philomela speaks with her eyes:
The gown of an old wizard
The crown of a cold lizard

“Unmask! Unmask!

I’m sorry, I don’t mean to hurt my ghost
Speak not a word against him
I’m a happy guest, I don’t even know the host
Amen! Raise a toast!

“So what’s that thing you love most?

……………………………………………………………………

……………….

Broken, the child awaits the dawn
Broken, a junkie turns the pages
A token, and a life to pawn
Green mothballs, withered sages

“You’re live on TV, brother!

Mirror mirror on the wall
Kill the snakes before they bite
Mirror mirror on the wall,
Will it rain or must I fight?

Pale mother, green, soft, sad
Like the morning train
I have her pictures too
Long long ago, she was blue

“Life, you’re free!

And now I’m a tree
(With bullet holes)
And now I can see!
(Through the bullet holes)

…………………………………………………………………. .

There’s a time
There’s a place
There’s a rhyme
There’s a race

“Oh!
……………………………………………………………………

There’s an old man who loves his life
And there’s another one who doesn’t
There’s a young man who loves his wife
And there’s another one who doesn’t

(There’s only one flower left
The rest are made of paper
The last song is still being sung
Hurry up,
else you’ll miss the bus!)

Comes back, right back
A crown with a thorn
A clown with a horn
Naked, forlorn

“The moon is broken

The mocking bird’s mocking shocking words!
Shh! The baby’s asleep
It’s buzzing, it’s spinning
I’m happy, I’m winning

(But the enemies seem bigger in the rear-view mirror
And the knife’s too close to my eyes
And the life’s too close to the skies)

“Roll on…..

The best one shines too bright
The rest seem out of sight
And the one who comes last shall dig the skies
(She dreams of Paradise!)

…………………………………………………………………… …..

And then,
The cloud came
And then,
All the same….

“Okay, pack up, show’s over!