EkTa Gachher Golpo

And this is what happens when you forbid yourself to cry

Heaven’s child,

Don’t bother smiling at me

And please do excuse the mist

I’m just a policeman saluting the stars

And all my cartoon networked dreams are closer to your heart today.

Flowers and Maze

You who have conquered all sadness

And are immune to all storms that rage

You may be closer to God,

But you are not close to me anymore

And Kabir sits by some ancient river

And the sun sets over our blue madness

And hearts get heavier with every falling leaf

She waits for me,

Every night, with a lamp in her hands

She loves me

And I love her too

And the nights get older

And the nights get colder

Chirodash

Rothi

Shei Mithila

Babylon-er jhhulonto bagan-e
ekoda ekTi kishorer lash porey chhilo
ghor chhilo. poth chhilo.
chhilo kichhu bastob-dhormi dui-mukho shaap
ojotha phool phooTechhilo kotipoy e'khaney o'khaney
ora mrityu noy, ora himarto chetona-e sthito

koyekjon mistiri miley chheni degey degey
hoyto amakeo ekTa shoptomashchorjyo gorey dito
Babylon-er jhhuley jaoa bagan-e shei ek kishor chhilo mrito
oboyob chhilo taar kichhu ba shanito

Kobi-r atMo-hawnon onoboroto,
etey notunotyo nei, churanto bodh achhey shudhu
bashi alo hoye

tai taara-e taara-e protidhWonito hoye
amader chitkaar chhuTey chollo
kromosho moha-bishWer anachey kanachey

Upay Nei

Ekdin, amar ekonishThho chita

Bheeshon bhabey jWoley uThhbey, jani

Totodin nahoy ami nijer theke

prochonDo-bhabey aakash-kheko aagun hotey cheye-o

Nibhei roilam

Ki aar korbo,

Upay nei,

Shudhu achhey ek adigonto bhoy

All that Breaks

Looking

at your crooked face

in the mirror

reminds you

of

things lost

Looking

at

things lost

reminds you

of your crooked face in the mirror

Passing by. Just passing by.

Things seem too pointless these days. It’s just this,

This holding on to the edges,

Putting the mask on every morning, and taking it off each night

Repetitive rituals, all.

Being like a reptile jolted off hibernation,

Cold blood on cold rocks; words grow old and dissolve in tides.

Flames refuse to leap up. Silence and sonority need not play hide and seek anymore,

There are no shadows left beyond the desert, I reckon. The music seems faint enough not to make any difference if it stops. Weariness wears a hideous face. He was a knight in the middle ages. I can still count all his dried-up wounds – twenty two in number.

I had chosen things to be like this. I loved this mask when it was new. I loved the stage. I loved the way you clapped and cheered. The blankness amused me. I had spent one whole eternity running after all the colours which, I was sure, were waiting for me at the end of this infinite. I knew that it has no end, I didn’t care. Now I do.

The journey never ends. But pilgrims quit. Often.

The wind blew. The wind still blows.

Well, it’s easy to live. All you need is to breathe. And, sometimes, you need to remind yourself to breathe. Things get complicated. Waves bind us to the trees. Lights cease moving. Garrisons retreat. Wings start aching. Passion fades away. Faces remain.

Wish I were the roots of some ancient oak.

Divine, like oblivion.

Worship, Lost

The train came whistling down

Mountains stared at me

Wrapped inside this empty coach

Forever, I’m forever free

A million years stood conquered

And they stand beneath my feet

You offer to me your broken dolls

And you offer to me my defeat

Well I was a sailor then

But that was long long ago

It’s not your love that concerns me

What matters is your shadow

When I slept beneath the rock

Were the sunsets cold?

That’s my moon you’re staring at

And now I’ve grown too old

If you want all that’s worth

that ancient, insane glow

Learn to fill up all my gaps,

Dearest child of snow

No one took me to this place

Where I stand now, today

I long for you, with all I have,

But it’s my tune that I play

With dreams I walk, with dreams I speak

With dreams I fight my fear

But when I kneel before your altar, well,

It’s just me kneeling there

All alone those stations stood

Careworn cities, they wane in frost

Flowers bloom, I feel you sighing

For whispers and for voices, lost

I won’t teach you the river’s words

And I can’t fight your wars for you

Though I can ride by your side

But only if you want me to

Trampled Petals

Godless child, how sad can you be?

Is it cold out there? Is it really misty?

One million pains pour down empty beer-bums

Therein lies the flesh of soul. We sleep tonight in peace

Is it all wrong in there?

Do you live without a single care?

Godless child, how wild can you be?

Show me thy light, and I shall kiss you free…

Thaka.

I don't care

Wish I did

I can't care

Wish I could

But maybe I do

And maybe I can

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

Amar shWopney orey hajaar shada ghora

Amar shWopney-e porey kichhu manusher peT-phola phanush

Amar deoal-e deoal-e ekraash chitkaar chup korey jhhuley jomey achhey

Ami ekTu adhTu bhalobashar jonyo prochonDo kangaal, aaj-o

Ami bohudin hoye gYalo brishTi portey dekhi ni ekhaney

Ami koshTey achhi, bheeshon-bhabey koshTey achhi

Keu kono-din-o jaantey paarbey na....

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

Steps. Shanito.

Pain,

at its worst,

is but

a bunch of wild lilies.

At its best

all the stars that shine.

In between,

a banshee sits:

cold, green, dreamlike,

and strangely silent –

like serene mother-nights:

Pale,

yet stately in her death-lit-glow...

And there’s clover in her breath.

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

dui dhoron-er aagun hoy:

anonder ar dukkher.

prothom-Ta diye shokol-er shathey

dabanol-er mawto dau-dau korey jWoltey hoy.

dWitiyo-Ta niye prodiip-er sholtey-r mawto

ekanto nijoshWo bhabey nihshWo hoye jetey hoy.

du-To-i bhitor-e thake.

theke jaye

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