Orun Borun Kironmaala

DNariye chhilo neerob shonkho-maala
Takiye chhilo bYartho pujor thala
Ulto roth-er udash shondhye-bYala,
Orun, Borun, ebong Kironmaala

Akash jurey ajob alor khYala
Dekhiye chhilo brishti-bhNepu-mYala
Lutiye chhilo ujan sroter bhYala
Orun Borun ebong Kironmaala

Orun, Borun, ebong Kironmaala
ShWapno chhNuye ChNad Bonik-er Paala
Sposhto chhilo koshto paoar jWala
Ebar amar hariye jaoar paala!

Of Dreams and Pugmarks

Beer-sick nights
Children rolling around in bear-fever
Mothers needing to bear these children forever

Fifty nine pages of ill-digested laments
And they reach stardom for the same sacred werewolves

I’ve seen such nights naked in my bed
Dancing atop the mountains for the fools’ Sinai
Ah, what a sight -
Madness dancing atop sadness!

Prisoners filling up the sky
There’s no cup of gold or fountain of life
It’s just these crumpled yellow pages
And an old, forsaken Hart Crane sighing in my garden

……………………………………………………………………

…………………………

By the way, have I told you about my garden flowers?
I guess not, for there aren’t any…

I see these green slopes
I feel the water crying through them,
through those green leaves which hide the desert

And, unlike Casanova,
I prefer to talk a lot, though I never listen
Let me explain why,
You see, I’m not ready to share my silence with anybody
And I’m not interested in anybody’s silence but mine

…………………………………………………………………… ……………………….

Roofs – they close down at times
And at other times they just disappear
You look at the cat catwalking along the window-sill,
You hear the strange harmony of the clock
and think that it’s Time talking to you
And you start visualizing some graveyard with
thirty eight clumsy rows and forty five orderly columns of scarecrows in place of crosses

Well, a clown’s judgment never gets clouded
Because the cloud is here,
between my lips,
And there,
between the skulls of motion and stillness

…………………………………………………………………… …………………

When the curtain drops,
And the puppet-master decides to call it a day,
The strings get loose,
You start thinking of the stars and madness and eternity….



Even then, freedom is essential

And, here I stand:
A scarred moon with broken jaws and hollow eyes.

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

Shibi

Eto’ta raasta hNetey
jani na kothaye eshey pNouchhechhi,
Janmo-udashiin kono sroter
kachhey bujhhi
Kono ekta
odbhut gobheer godhuli’r gaye
koyekta aNchor
Koyekta khapchhara shonajhhuri,
koyekta bishonno mouchak….

……………………………………………………………………

………………………..

Chhilo, upaye chhilo,
Chhilo jeeboner abokash,
Neel-shada upotyoka…
Urey gechhi, bohu durey,
Dana’ra’o poth phirey chaye…

Tumi ki bolo ni?
Bojhho ni aleya bhul?
Ami eka roi
Eka porey roi
Jotil anko eNke…

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

Jani na kisher khNojey
bali shoriyechhi eto’din…

Tot-rekha jurey jol-kada-bisrinkhol,
Juddhye raatrey koshto,
Koshto paatar bhNajey
Alo noy, abir noy, brishti-teshta’o noy
Gachh chai, aaro gachh, shobuj
snigdho aloron….

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

Pakhi’ra-o chena shWadhinota-e phirey ashey
Manush-ta ekhono porey,
Tepantorer nesha-e,
Badur-jhhola Chhayapoth-e,
Megh-chNad-prodiip-er chiroporichito carnival-e….

…………………………………………………………………… …………………………

Asholey abeg noy, onubhuti noy,
Emon ki kono goheen upolobdhi
ba uchchwaron-o noy

Kobir ashol shombol holo
Aguner probol akorshon:
Purey jaoar aar puriye deoar
obaadh onabil nishthhurota….

…………………………………………………………………… ………………..

Vajra Guru

That was nothing. A flash of masks
And a mad dash.
And the tarantulas have hit the streets now!
Right now! A million and fifty three of them
Some of them are really asleep
Others need to take a dump in the wet
symmetry of the sunflower-esque half-dreams
I kiss you, now. Right now.

And then came the quadrilaterals
Flying –
floating in the infinite space
between time, god and toothaches
Vibgyor quadrilaterals, and,
And I imagine a lion. And a lion imagines me
And the harmony imagines the silence
And the silence imagines the harmony
And distant drums rumble

I want to make love to Pandora.

Those who stay at home are fools
The Home is on fire
Those who stay in the sky are fools
The Sky is a liar

Take my broken bugle and give me your beastly flag in return

Mind goes to the forest
And becomes a tree
And there’s a corner of your room
Where the bohemian telephone squats,
perched atop the sun…..


Those small squares have somehow
disappeared from the vials, and the candle is just this little throbbing dot
closer to my eyes, a friend to a friend of the tides.

Time and tide wait, and keep on waiting, for a nun
The nun is dead. Her lips are cold. Her flesh is the earth
She isn’t my mother.

We live and we believe

“Namo Ratna Trayaya,
Namo Arya Jnana
Sagara, Vairochana,
Byuhara Jara Tathagataya,
Arahate, Samyaksam Buddhaya”


.


I have conquered fear. So fear me.





And the hunchbacked gatekeeper must begin with his fire-sermon…..

Pujo Ashchhey?

Contact Lens

Bolechhiley alo jwoley megh nibhey geley
Shwopnera heshey jaye smito torutoley
Bolechhiley bhanga ghor jora laagey joley
Akashey holdey chhai aguner koley


Bolechhiley chNad ashey brishtir daakey
Mombati tuli hoye jolchhobi aNkey
Taara-der tim-tim-ey kuashar fNakey
Dukkho lukiye pheley jonaki-ra thakey

Bolechhiley udashiin ghurider thhNotey
Nibhey jaoa phulki-ra phool hoye photey
Jonguley jochhna-e praan jegey othhey
Herey jaoa kobita-ra lakho-lakho jotey…..


Onek kichhu-i toh bolechhiley,
Proshno hochchhey, ami shunechhilam ki?

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

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

Siren

Tirey shariboddho prohoriira
Chorey jegey achhey, gachhey andhokarey lukochuri
Andho prohoriira chokh dhar nYay
chNader kachh thekey,
manusher oshukh ekhono sharatey paarey ni nodii…

Okhaney ullekhjogyota paabey boley,
Aleya-e, buk-e kaada makha-makhi alo
Okhaney lonthhon dYakha-e, bari noy,
Bari theke beronor poth, okhaney klanti taaney

Ajosro nouko, ashonkhyo akankha….

Tirey shariboddho prohoriira,
Nodii-te najor-bondii manush…..

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

Kholosh

Shoriirer bairey bohu jayega-e kshoto-chinho,
Bhitorey andhokarer ghran
Boshey thaka, shanto protisruti niye,
Gobheer-e upekkhar teebrota

Eka thaktey ekhono bheeshon bhoy hoy
Bagan achhey, phool achhey, ekta cheshta achhey
Aar du’ek phNota teshta achhey,
Sheykhane-i shikor amake ashwosto korechhey……

Shudhu jetty-r pashey kaadaye purono launch-er kholata
ekhono mukh thubrey porey achhey,

Aar amar-o ko’ek ta kholosh chharano baki….

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

Choturthii

Koyekta daag porey achhey,
Daageder-o obhimaan achhey
Koyekta mummy amake dekhchhey
Mummy-ra o shobuj bhalobashey

Prokrito rohoshyo holo lukiye na thaka
Aguney pathorey neel, goponiyo rakha….

Jara banijye jaye tarao nabik…..

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

Heimdall

Koyekta shukno khor-kuto-e agun dhorachchhi,
shiit kombey. Eka thaka-e haar-kNapano thhanda
Abar bhirbhatta-r jwalonto furnace-e, gham-e
shanti-r shiit o khNujtey hoy majhhe-shajhhey

Eto onushondhan klantikor,
Janla-gulo-i besh bhalo bondhu….

Ekta houd dhNoyasha halogen
Bosti-r chhadey chNad uthhechhey
Aaro onek du’rey,
koyekta mohakash-er o’parey
Prithibiir dikey takiye achhey nirbashito goli…

Ekhon-o chaar-tolar kotor thekey obak hoye cheye achhi,
Ekdin pothey naambo
Shey’din aar obaak hobo na……

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

Kotor

Ekhono pordar araley tripti-ra haatchhani dYay
Ekhono kopal jurey kangal chNader alo….

Sheydin bheeshon teshta peyechhilo, ghumonor teshta
Bohudin ghumoi ni,
ghumono-r shwopney onek dhulo-bali jomey achhey
jegey thakar aaguney onek diner chitkaar

BNechey thaka maaney gupto-dhon nei jeneo
mati kopano
Bhalobasha maaney shei mati te-i brikkho-ropon…..

Shob jani, ami e-o jani jey
nodiir kono alonkaar laagey na,
srot-ei taar poripurnota

Tobu, eto kichhu jana shotweo,
Ami na-jana ta ke-i dinraat khNuje cholechhi

Nodii paar bhengey cholechhey….

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

Lukiye

Andhokaar amake bheeshon bhalobashchhey
Amakey lukiye rekhechhey guptochor der thekey,
Manusher chokhey bheeshon alo,
Tai jonaki-rai apon
Manusher kanthho-shwor teebro
JhhNijhhNi-ra-i onek beshii ghonishtho

Andhokaar amakey bheeshon bhalobashey
Andhokaar aphshosh dhekey dYay…..

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

Bibhinno Rongeen Shuto

Gobheer phNad pata achhey
mati-te, akashey,

Lukonor jayega kom,
Lukochuri-ta emni-tei bishakto khYala,
Aar ami-o shei kobey kon-kaaley
diary lekha chherey diyechhi….

Gobheer phNad pata achhey,
Gachhey, nodii-tey

Palanor upaye nei ekhon aar,
Mukho-mukhi dNarano-o bhiiti-prodo,
Chokh dhheke phYala ta anushthhanik,
Onekta mukhosh kholar mato

Jaara chhaya-e ot petey amake dekhchhey
Ami-o alor bhitor theke taader-kei dekhchhi.

Meye ta brishti dekhchhey
Brishti meye-ta ke dekhchhey

Mati theke manush dekhchhey airplane
Airplane theke manush dekhchhey mati

Gachh theke aagun dekhchhey srot
Nodii theke srot dekhchhey aagun….

Apatoto ami tai bibhinno rongeen shuto niye kheley cholechhi

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

Old Skins and Sold Sins

I have written a lot about you
I need to drink something new
Without me, the world is blind
And there’s a key I cannot find

I need the moon to glisten down
I hid the spoon to eat the town
You need my eyes to stare at me
And in my cage I am free

Why on earth shall I stand?
This is not my holy land
My holy land is far away
My holy hands are made of clay

My words are true, I am not
There are battles I had fought
Elephants have that scent of God
The King rules with his iron rod

That twenty-seventh rope is loose
And the thirty-ninth brings the booze
But I would rather stay at home
And keep on talking to the gods of Rome

My head, you see, is too proud for you
So here’s my ass, and the flower I drew
You are welcome to my house
But there's no milk, I've killed the cows

You hit the wall, you break it down
Your name is just that proper noun
Well the flames do listen to me
But I don’t really care, I’m just a tree

And no one must dare to ask
The reason why I wear this mask
In my garden the stars have claws
There’s the warden, he has his laws

I can’t feel, I’m not that strong
I’ll burn out, it won’t be long
But if you find me asleep again
Kiss the seas and bring the rain

Mother-chod ChNad

Mother-chod chNad tui hosh na kYano mod?
Amar thhNot bYakul holey shondhye-bYalar alo
Mother-chod chNad tui hosh na kYano mod?
Shukher bhitor ajgubi jol buker bhitor kaalo

Mother-chod chNad tui bondhu chhili bujhhi?
Megher bhitor alpona rong alta dhoya gaaney
Mother-chod chNad tui bondhu chhili bujhhi?
Mother-chod chNad ami kothaye torey khNuji?

Mother-chod chNad aye chokh rakhbo chokhey
Joar BhNata-r bhatiyali srot boithha gYalo koi?
Ekla ghorey pidim jWeley ekla shuye roi
Mother-chod chNad chol prem korbo tokey

Mother-chod chNad tui rakto mangshey gora
Bonbibi tor bonbhojon-er bonya holo khora
Mother-chod chNad tui hNariya makha dhheu
Tor abol-tabol matal madol shunbena aar keu

Mother-chod chNad tor nekrey taana roth
Mother-chod chNad tor shikor bNadha poth
Mother-chod chNad aye teshta diye ja
Mother-chod chNad aye koljey chhNirey kha

Mother-chod chNad aye bhashbi amar shathey
Rakto-joba-e korchhi pujo rakto makha haatey
Mother-chod chNad tor rupor pa-er kachhey
Brishti bheja aoaj gulo shanto hoye achhey

Mother-chod chNad, torey mrityu-dando debo
Akash jurey alor mala phatol jurey kotha
Bodhir pranii odhir jaani pNajor-bhora bYatha
Mother-chod chNad tumi prodiip hoye nebho

Mother-chod chNad, ami kNedechhi onek-kaal
Mother-chod chNad tor adim chokhhey bhoy
Kabor khNurey jochhna elo polash holo laal
Jhhorer mathaye nachtey holey nupur portey hoy

English aar Bangla

Ekjon-er alonkaar achhey, onyojon-er nei
Ekjon ahonkaari, onyojon udashii
Ekjon Bypass-er alo, onyojon ShNaotali madol

Ekjon cabaret nachey, onyojon khYamta
Ekjon purnima, onyojon omaboshya
Ekjoner onek bondhu, onyojon eka


Ekjon mohinii Park Street e Hiramon-tota-r rakto hoye hashey
Onyojon hotash Dharmotollar mor-ey bYakul hoye dukrey kNadey

Kintu,

Kintu du’jon-ei amake akasher khub kachha-kachhi niye jaye

Shadow Song

I met God for three seconds, his skin was made of electric
I was busy shaving a lion’s mane before the maskmen got busted,
They were carrying a cross across some cold deep desert
They were singing.

I open my eyes every morning. Busy ants crawl through
Busy snakes coil and uncoil, but it’s just another cigarette-dot in the sun
Or is it the sun?
Curtains were thrown open,
Light! Divine light!
And I know ghosts who promise themselves the rainbow,
Can you believe it!


Happy roads with sad trees.
Trees. Flowers and shades. Trees.


There were saints in the mirror,
The curious dead.
There are saints in the sky
The holy dead


And every time I look up,
I see the Milky Way, on fire!
And every time I look down
I see my unwashed underwear.
Isn’t it funny to break things?


An ostrich walks in, like some ancient Greek philosopher with a burning halo all around his head,
And I see my mother, before she became the rain
And I see my father, before he became the clouds
And I see my baby-self, before it became this thirsty bullet hole


And of the million colours you sell, I’ll buy the red
and the blue,
I’d have preferred the white, but you don’t have
it with you


Ah, these epiphanies
Ah, me!
Am I not the centre of the world?
I guess not, but at least I’m standing there.


And when I stand in the rostrum
I feel like Caesar
with no Rubicon to cross and no henchmen and heartmen waiting in the stairs.

Am I? Are you? Are we?


Well, I’d given my faith away to the morning star.
At times the skies open up.
At times, I tremble in sexless elevators.
And then, the storm brought in all my jubilations.

Stone. Scissor. Paper.
Stone. Scissor. Paper.

Take a right turn from here and you’ll see my face etched in the mahogany and cobwebs of this night and these nights. Like some mummified high-priest from Discovery Channel.

I woke up in a garbage can. The prison roared out!

I had shown my face to Petrarch. I swear he was repulsed. Blake loved me. At times.

Wish I were a rainbow in sunset.
Wish I had wings.


But wherever I step, there’s this splitting headache following me
And I’m a giant fly with a million blue eyes
The highway becomes a river with strange flowers floating
The town becomes a circus-tent with happy elephants and sad clowns


And I saw those death-convict houses wearing shoes, shoelaces stretching to the horizon. I might join the army, or the Red Cross, or get run over by a mad truck somewhere in between the two bridges of sunrise and moonrise. Hah! How many times have these words been repeated? My eyes are on fire!

When I want everybody to talk to me, to give me some time, everyone seems busy licking their own wounds.
And when everybody wants to talk to me, to give some time, I remain busy inflicting wounds to myself.
It’s a bloody war out there!
And I’m talking to the insects.
And I have nowhere to go
And I have everywhere to go!


I need to take my head out from the refrigerator.
I need to put it on.
I need to paint my floor

Darkness, my poison whore!
Darkness, my door of hope!
Darkness, my crystal cup!
Darkness, my kingdom of gold!
Darkness, my wild love!





And then, for three seconds, I met god
His skin was made of electric. He was god

The Hunter

I've earned myself a thunder.
Some day, I'll be god.
I'll rule.

But now, I'm living in a garden,
And my shadow lives in a desert.

If you do manage to find it,
let me know.

Windows

I know this world
I know this place
I know this smile
In every face

Nothing’s wrong,
Nothing’s right
There’s a song
To sing tonight

Times wasted
In treasure hunt
There’s no treasure
It’s just a stunt


The words I write
Are for me
And that’s the way
It shall ever be

Crowded days
Words ablaze!
Fear the guards,
Fear their gaze

I speak of gold
I speak of dust
Some gets sold
The rest flies past

And then the flames
Leap out wild
Flowers, ashes
And the long-dead child

And here I stand
In the middle
I know this land
I know the riddle

Hajaar Taka Daam

Shukher jaani haajar taka daam
Tai dukher churoye likhchhi amar naam

Bheeshon Shukh

Ekhon ami bheeshon shukhey achhi, alor mato jWolchhi
Ekhon ami bheeshon shukhey achhi, alor mato jWolchhi



Shukher mul karon holo, ami dukkho petey bhoy pai na aar

Shesher Sheydin

Shwapno niye bhaloi chhilam rupkothader deshey
Shotyi elo, shunyo hoye, muchrey dilo sheshey
Shwapno niye bhaloi chhilam rupkothader deshey


Bhitorey bahirey jol daag rekehey jaye
Shonkrantir raatey, phooler malaye
Bhitorey bahirey jol daag rekhey jaye

Baki shob pichhutaan mithye bujhhi?
Uraye puraye shudhu taharei khNuji
Baki shob pichhutaan mithye bujhhi?

Shwapno gulo shotyi toh noy, kshonik shukher bhrom
Tomra bujhhi bhorer kheya-e, ami-i bYatikrom
Shwapno gulo shotyi toh noy, kshonik shukher bhrom

Eikhanetei thamtey hobey, aar egono noy
Hothhat bujhhi joriye dhorey hariye jaoar bhoy
Eikhanetei thamtey hobey, aar egono noy

Onek din porey

Onek din porey pothey naamlam
Shoriirey trishnar jol

Aar shoriirer bairey,
Gobheer shunyo

Shotyi kothar onek daam

Shotyi kothar onek dam, ami goreeb lok
Kintu jaara shotyi boley, taader shukhey jaagi

Koyekta phool shukno hoye jomei achhey kothao
Smriti-gulo o elomelo, kanna hoye i bhasho

Obantor jegey thaka, kaar mukher kotha bhebey?
Aar shob kichhu mithye holeo, ei jantrona tuku aapon






Shotyi kothar onek daam, ami goreeb lok







Aabar konodin jodi khidey paye,
nijer koljey ta kheye nebo

Poth

Raasta amaye bheeshon taney
Ami raasta-e hNattey bhalo bashi.

Ghorer onek abokash,
Dukkho aaney, srot aaney
Maya aaney
Aar kakhono shakhono bhengeo dYay

Pother shei abokash nei
Sheykhaney keu karur jonyo dNariye thake na,
Tai pother bhangon nei, klanti nei, kshoma nei

Raasta amaye bheeshon taaney
Ami raasta hNattey bhalobashi

Pahar

Paharer kono shonkirnota nei,
jotilota nei,
osthirota nei,
Manusher achhey

Ekhono aami manush

Kintu ekdin,
oi pahareyi hariye jaabo
eka eka,

Shomosto bhoy aar pichhutan chhNirey pheley
Mishey jaabo
Ekakitwye, goponiyotaye,
mohan shanti tey….


Shamosto klanti,
dwidha,
glani,
chitkaar,
Muchhey jaabey sheidin,
Jaani

Kintu ami ekhono manush
Eka thaktey amar ekhono khub bhoy korey….
Ekhono dom bandho hoye ashey,
Ekhono pNajor kota achhey,
Bhitorey onek, onek teebro theke teebro-taro
jantrona o royechhey
Shei shob kichhu chepey rekhey
niyoto amake shong shajtey hoy,
hashtey hoy
Shoujanyota bashotoh boltey hoy:
“Ami bhaloi achhi”

Ekdin, pahar habo
Jani….
Tatodin, nahoy ebhabei eka eka katiye dilam?

Bhalo theko, tumi, tomra
Shobbai…..

Bhalo theko

O bhoy

O bhoy,
Tui kothaye lukiye chhili?

Kothaye chhili shunyo jol, kothaye chhili alo?
Naam likhechhi dheuer mathaye, chinho rakha bhalo


Mon kharaper bYathar theke bhoy i apon bujhhi
Bikel bYalaye haraye jey jon, taarey shondhye bYala khNuji

Ghorer koney lukiye chhilo shur na jana bNashi
Ghoriir kNataye khNjutey holo kanna rashii rashii

Matir tolaye chomkey othhey hothhat bheeshon taan
Udhao pother shongii thakuk thomkey jaoa gaan

O bhoy,
Tui kothaye lukiye chhili?

O bhoy,
Tui kothaye lukiye chhili?

O bhoy,
Bagaaney jaabi?

Ghurni

Abar ekta siren bajchhey
Shahor ghumiye achhey. Shabdhaan!

Shahorer chokh nei, raastar achhey
Raasta asholey prohorii.
Raasta ghomoy na. Ghumochchhey na
Shabdhaan!


Dukhho-upotyoka, ochena pakhi….
Chhayapothey o kaar payer chhap?
hNete gechhi, balir tot dhorey,
adho-ghumey, kakhono, jegey
Oneyk oneyk durey, jegey thakey tila
Paar bhangey jol, hNatu-jol,
Teney rakhey, shikorey, trishnaye….

Dekhini kuasha poth kuasha tramline hoye
Kakhono dhulobalir haat dhorey
neon bashpey eshey meshey
Dakini pherot aar, dNarai ni thomkey, dekhini, dekhini
pichhoney phirey…..

Pathorey takhon chitkaar, akashey chitkaar
Andhokaarer buk chhNirey falafala aguner
phona, taroaal…
“jao, choley jao, durey shorey jao
aar kakhono konodin e’pothey esho na, dNariyo na,
dorjaa bandho!”

Aagun takhono lelihaan, neel, chamraye phatol
dNarai ni, aar dNarai ni ami….

Guptoghatok ekhono raastaye
Andho-golir koney
Aar siren e bheeshon bhoy:
Shabdhaan! Shabdhaan!

Tonight

I celebrate you in my poems tonight
My words are on fire,
My fingers tremble in some unknown thirst
And very soon,
this page will go up in flames
I worship you, with my words,
tonight


Tonight,
the stars are quivering.
the moon seems sadder
and the music has fallen silent
in love…..

Tonight,
the river glows in silver,
the trees remain awake
And,
gripped, as if,
with some unknown fever.
the wet soil lets out her hidden sighs
to the tender breeze….


It is at moments like this
That you become the Angel of sorrow,
and fly out into those million folds of the
wordless sky
And I see you, whispering
all your untamed dreams and songs
to the rain in soft motion…..
And I see the Milky Way melting
into the kind breasts of the ocean

I celebrate you in my poems tonight
I celebrate you in my poems tonight

ChhNera Chithhi

Nijer kheyaley raat dhheu bali bhangey.
Odbhut onujog. Gobheerey, aaro gobheerey
Sthitisheel.

Upotyoka thekey jYamon
protyoho protikkhar protyakhan
Prottokkho korey neel-machhi
ebong onYanyo-patongera
Sheykhaney projapoti dhaye
Gaan-gaye
Shonkrantir shankromon,
Shukhey, shammoney,
nishkromon

Tai bujhhi aaj shMaronarthhi der notun besh!

Aar bhromonarthi der notun desh…..

………………………………………………………………………………………

Om Manipadme Hum, Manipadme
Bheshey jaoa maaney nijer chhondey
Haaoar gondhye
Shaboler pholaye
Shikorer tolaye

Shudhijon, pipasharto
Kshoy, kshoy kormagoto
pNajorey lipto hawoa,
Bhoy…bheseshon bhoy……

Ke tomar jenechhilo stob, Tothagato?
Ke tomar dekhhechhilo aalo?
Ke tomaye beshechhilo bhalo?
Protidan chahey nai bujhhi
Cheyechhilo shudhu shoja-shuji!

……………………………………………………………………………………………

Bon-badarey murti-gorey aanmona kon Ramkinkor
Shei pathorei pran dhheley dYay ujaan-sroter Tarashankor
ENtel-matir du’ar thheley ashbey bujhhi notun jon
Udash haaoaye shurer bNadhon bhroshto kono bon-srijon
Ei pothey aaj udhao pothik udaash megher kashto nei
Moner kotha bhulbey jey jon bikel-bYala-e spashto shei



………………………………………………………………………………………..


Onek desh ghurechhi,
Urechhi. Uriyechhi,
Purechhi. Puriyechhi
Ekhon bujhhi ba jorar shomoy
Shob bYatha, kshato, srot, benojol,
Shob, Shamosto kichhu bujhhiba
Juronor shomoy ekhon

O notun, tui purono ke bhoy pash?

…………………………………………………………………………………….


Pichhutaan, shey toh thakbei….
Tobuo neon-dhaka niyoto shohurey raatrey
Ekhono somudrer garjon shona jaye
Batashey nona-balir ghran….

Raastagulo asholey shomudro
Bari-ghor gulo –
bichchhinno bhashomaan dwip
Onek gopon goponiiyota jomiye jomiye jhhinuk bNachhey
Mukto toiri hoy……

Taarpor,
Shei shob mukto bikri korar jonyo toh khola-bajaar achhei……

……………………………………………………………………………………..

Michhil e hajaaro mukh
Shatotoh-shoncharomaan
Manush hawoar shukh
Niye ashey obhimaan,
obiraam....

Niirob shamorthoney
Birol nimontroney
Bishonno brishti-phNotaye
Megh-bhanga aalga chhWotaye
Lutiye porchhey shahor
Lukiye gunchhey prohor
Barof-dhaka kabor
Bujhhi ba nichchhey khabor
Ke kothaye choley gYachhey
Kotha ke ba dukhey achhey?


Nishwashey abokaash,
Bishwashii shahobash



Mukh dhekey dao
Shukh eNkey nao…..


……………………………………………………………………………….


Ami ekhon bhaloi achhi
Esho, ek-shathey bhalo thakbo.
Ami ekhon purey jachchhi
Esho, ekshathey purbo….



……………………………………………………………………………………………



Gorar shomoy hisheb koshar proyojon nei,
Hisheb-nikesh shob jomiye rakhtey hoy
bhangar shomoy kaajey laagbey boley
Phatoler, bhangoner, bichitro jYamiti
Bhangoner shabdo –
Eshob i hoytoh manush ke bNachiye rekhechhey etokaal


Kintu, bhaba bhalo
jey kichhu kichhu jinish achhey
Jeygulo konodin bhangbey na
Bhabtey bhalo laagey,
jey amrao ei digontobistrito bhangoner,
ghurnijhhorer mukhey
Bhengey na jaoar potaka orabo ekdin !





……………………………………………………………………………………………






Aakashey joler ghran.
Matitey obujhh taan
Madoley matal praan
Stombhito jayogan
Spordhyae boliyaan
Shesher shei shMoshan
Aajo bujhhi bhashoman
Aajo bujhhi omlaan….

Artonaader prarthonaye
BYathito maanei bYartho noy……

O kaar bNashi baajey?


……………………………………………………………………………………


Jalodoshyu-ra ashchhey
Jalodoshyu-ra bhashchhey
Jalodoshyu-ra hashchhey

Jodio bojhhey ni shukh tara
Mouno-broti Shuktaara….

………………………………………………………………………………………….

Hothhat aaguney garjon!
Bujhhi kichhu korbei arjon?

Kintu,
Ora dakholdari chaye
Aar,
aagun nibhey jaye,
chithhi pNouchhoy na….

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Ekla nouko, boithha bhashey
Nodiir pani, buker kachhey
Bodhir pranii, sheo toh bNachey
Odhir, jaani, moner pashey
Shesh bikeler sharbonashey!


Klanti, ebong bhranti
Ebong shobar sheshey….
Shanti…..

…………………………………………………………………………………………


Aar chNader-buri,
Chorka kaatchhey
Galpo bunchhey
Aaro bunbey
Aar buri-chNad
Ekla hNatchhey
Kanna shunchhey
Aaro shunbey…..


………………………………………………………………………………………………


Punoshcho:
Tomake dekhtey pachchhi,
Paharer oloukik churaye
Shomudrer dheu-dYotonaye
Rukkho balir bukey
Amar shommukhey

Bhalo theko,
shukhey, sharbonashey
Bhalo theko.
ekhaney, amar pashey

Incarnation

Stumbling through the lost kingdoms,
Ancient, like legends,
and your body the ocean so vast,
the mind gets a cold light and haze and blue.

Stumbling through. Lost. Mirrors.


There’s a desert in the backyard
And another far far away
Fenced, long ago, white with numbness
It snowed once. Blood. Snow-Man, smiles. Snowman. Pervert.


Roman and distant. Woman. Snow man, the pain pains
And I’ll stand tall. Lighthouses. Garbage cans.
I opened the door. I faced what was coming.
A storm. A dream. A little white boat.
I opened the door. Yes.


People watching us. Men of shadows.
And women from the chateaus
And those other silences too. Never mind.
Sail,
Bloom,
Dream,
Exorcise…..


And there I’ll stand for you.
Between the ridges and the life
Between the edges and the knife
Between your eyes and the voice
Between your sighs and the choice
Between everything that swims and everything that drowns
Between the dancing nymphs and the naked towns
Between you and me
Let’s plant a tree
Flowers. Blood. Flowers. Huh!


Half deserted and half baked through Angels and nights and moons
and nihilist fancies. To burn. And to burn. And to burn. Besides the lakes
and the northern breeze to circle us in the vast cage of epiphany and to
make-believe that it’s not a chain anymore but flowers with sex and eyes and
then again the killers and the healers and the preachers and the nightcrazy creatures
Fall. Rain, drums and drumsticks and thunder for those who seek alms
For the ocean knows many tales and the skeletons know a few
And yet they mone for the glory and the daze for everything to exist like caves and beware beware for caves are graves with exclamation marks and other annotations draw
Fresh prayers from severed lips which knew how to kiss once but are pale cold and dry now because the desert never forgives though the ocean does and both of them forget and are safe-keepers of promises for others to live with them and words and turbulent images
Of what we think and we are cold and arms and all and sleep and again the fire gets fanned and elves come out in moonlight and the carnival begins in Rome and here and in the gypsies whose tongues were slashed by the evil red-bloodshot drunk wine rhododendrons in mountain lost wilderness and yes and beware and beware for the theatres have trapdoors which open to rooms filled with blue smoke and choked men of stone and women of marble with frozen tears and chosen rears and a void devoid of their and our own empty reasons to cry and to live and to blank blankets of joyless sorrowless painless travesties and geometries which seem so beautiful and straight and yet are stillborn though dead infants dream in those tidal wombs as well of the wet dark damp rooms where they spend the rest of their non-existent deaths and harmonies, ah but who plays the harmony the tune so sweet in this midnight death fog? And who digs for treasures now?

Is it a dream. Is this truth?

Winter arrived once, riding on a pale green song.
We were reborn in the same waves. Rooms.

I was born in a green gallery. The slaves were clapping
The jokers were holding photographs. The stars were eating the moths.
Suddenly, the doors sprang open and fountains and light and darkness and circles
and round and holy grey droplets came in through the sands and everything became hollow. I remember a yellow nightshade. Was it you? I see a yellow nightshade.

Is it you?


The king sees everything. The king is old. The trees are old. The streets are mad. They celebrate. Let them.

Mahogany epiphanies,
symphonies,
agonies.
Oaks in cloaks.
Machines choke
Toads croak
Dream and smoke…..

There are snakes in cemeteries
We think of sex in symmetries
Phantom, who are you?
Killer, I know you!

And then the hummingbirds became sad for they could hum no more
Crosses gather moss. Our saintly subways are breaking down.
Someone save their souls.
And you were born in a bullet hole
And I’m an actor playing my role
Snuff. Ghostcandles. Wax. Melt. Melt.
Incense in your temple, your temple is dark and I am the priest
A serpent sleeps inside.
And there are laws to abide
The breeze
The flame
In two-s and three-s
The first shame
From Bethlehem
I missed my aim
And hatred came

And no one new how the dark scent had taken over and how the flags were still fluttering and how we died and were reborn everymoment and our thrones and our crowns were meant to drown in the tumult of this restless, restless life for the mad men and women had gathered round the lighthouse in awe and I woke up to see the curtains being drawn and being lifted through the smoke and the haze of several sacred centuries when we learned to love in the monasteries hidden behind the veil of some unknown gaze-dark for the midnight had taken over and the lights bore the very same fragrance of these burning flowers and those burning hours and the hidden sisters prayed when our lips and our hearts came closer to the oblivion where no one can ever hide and everything seems so perfect, eternal and pure…. Encircled by the dawn. With fifteen million shades of light glowing in the breast of this Milky Way, and that Milky Way, and fifteen million Milky Ways all along the highway, and those other shiny things which are too heavy to carry to the camps must be left behind but for those rain-soaked sermons by our doorsteps.

Awaken.
Forsaken.
This joyride
That ebb-tide
Burn
Turn.


They arrive in waves with the streets and oceans and blood
They are the paladins.
They have fire in their mouth,
Poison in their throat
And lilies in their hand. Children of Eternity. Oedipus of Time. There. Their
Hidden chambers down below
Dark alleys
Sweatsweet valleys
Moonlit galleys
And shallow gallows
Spreading through. The primitive oak. Roots. Through the bones of time, heaven and dustbins, reaching out, reaching out to feel, to kneel, to falter before the altars and to break down into every single of the thousand drops from the sleepless guards made of broken pianos keys as they moan with the corpses of the abyss and the catacombs tired dreams and snakes from some misty wild haunted-sonnet-sad midnight land hunting for the flames the shames the names to tame the selfsame frames of fame and the game that aim at the lame and claim to maim those who came to blame all of them. There it lies. Down beneath the crosses. Defeat and absinthe. Our heroes. Bored minstrels. All.

Strange birds of dawn,
Begone!
Lights. Turn them on

And tragedies become obscene in the final scene with some hidden screen in-between the actor, the acted, and the eternal sin. The caterpillar becomes a train in philosophies and silences and jeweled crowns and fuelled asses and the witch in the heath with her coldtits-coalpits-razorslits weaves her own little sky old and withered away through moments and epiphanies of those passionate fashions and fashionable passions towards the dusks and masks and sunsets and unrests and all things bright and beautiful all creatures great and small and stoned blue liquor-piss-smelling sunflowers in public lavatories after the painter became rain. And clouds pay their visit half-way down the road and feet freezes.

Languish.
Anguish.
Death-wish.

The army enters town. Marching sounds throughout the seraphim-night. And horses. A million horses. Tanks enter like those sudden gasps of the grasping trap that wraps our sleepless sleeps and listless lips to weep and creep and trip over the tulips that grow deep within us and them at night. The army enters town.

I feel you. Juxtaposed. Between images and me. Through radiances, audiences and raindances. Holy light. Holy. Fatal. Poetic.


Today is a beautiful day.
Flowers sway.

Today is a beautiful day.
Children play

Today is a beautiful day.
I’m on my way.


Today is a beautiful day
It is.


Tonight we shall sing
Bells ring

Tonight we shall sing
About everything

Tonight we shall sing
I will be your king

Tonight we shall sing
Let’s kiss


We’ve been gambling with our hollow wisdoms for the relics of factory-smoke for so long, long….. Smoke becomes the collar bone. Smoke. We’ve been yearning. I don’t remember for how long. How long? Was it the snow? Was I a cannibal? Where’s the ritual? Where’s the sacrifice? Seems like so many eras and ants and ladders and circus-song-broken-heart-w agon-monsters and centaurs of these nightmares and other nightmares have passed and I’ve been here by the river where flames run dry and children of flowers dance atop the fire and I’ve been watching. Watching. Still gaze. We’ve been watching. They’ve been watching.

For you who conquered every storm, my dreams. All for you. For the petalkissed venom wet drizzle rain rain all for the ones who never talked was it?oh! never ever to the sunrise to the moonsung whores and butterflies injected phantasms and Angelic eyes melting down to the whirlpools and the towers of decay and metal-plasic bohemian longevity. Amen!

Spinning.
Grinning
Cheshire. Slow steps. Advance, stand before. Sands and dunes and mountains of gold. God resides there. Perhaps. Dream dribble dream. Dribble dream dribble dribble dream dribble dribble dream dream dribble dream dribble. I feel so senile and cold. Lights fade out at times. But at times, fresh blood! Gushing through! Fresh…..


The mind is a rain-forest.
There’s another rain-forest somewhere out there.
Hope is divine.

The band has passed through.
Cobwebs in my eyes.
Cold. Lips are blue.
Behold! Everything is true
Shiver.
Fever.
And stoic statues.


Captive. Us. Them.
Illuminated, the Imaginary corners and circles.
hallucinate the Dead
Trapped, damp
So where’s the lamp?


The lion awaits. Fear the lion.
The lion awaits. Tear the lion
The lion.
And at times I feel like this Samsa-giant-creature staring at my roof and not thinking of
anything beyond it, and you.

Wearing the weary smile and this series of masks and pictures and lights and rhapsodies and halos and harmonies that lead us to the death-pale of the silent oceans and turpentine-alleys of the tired streets once the celebration is over and the quaint kind night rolls like a fatal wordless worldless wheel of worship that sinks in the dark and floats in the other dark of our unknown hearts it hurts and lady midnight with flowing robes and rivers of silver and peace-nightlight by the fading lanterns of the fogkissed inn bloated out by the ink of the moon no mother no Sylvia silver gowns garnish days and beaten down till the dawn with drumbeats of they who wish to come and dear Santa Claus saints from roses and passions in the timber eros thanatos timber tinder dragon and there’s yet another dragon locked up in here and out there to weave and sing with the serpent-frog-dance-dance-c ity in hyacinth-delirium. City. Hypnos. Myth. In the beacon of doom as the world rotates round an axis made of eternal dog-barks and pug-marks and skylarks and Noah’s-arks.

Naked
Stark
Wicked
Dark.

Beethoven Beethoven caged in sounds
Found his voice from the rain-damp grounds
The little boy who heard him moan
Became the flower atop a stone
The broken man who heard him sigh
Became the clouds in a midnight sky
The boy, the man and the senile moon
They will fall asleep soon

But Beethoven remains awake
Beethoven is a snake

And lizards are but wizards
Who lost their way in blizzards
And Santa Claus lives in moss
In the world of profit and loss

And the little girl in a chocolate-dress
Fell in love with he who was rambling
But he was holding an Ace
As he was shot while gambling.


Cinderella stares down the lobby. Her feet are cold.
Being sad is her hobby. This story is old

And fairy godmother, she crosses the river
She tells you that she’ll live forever
Well, I think it’s easy to live
All you need is to make believe

The music gets louder
As the white powder
Chants through the mind
Leaving traces behind
By the water from the gates
The Tiger awaits….

Voices become noises when free.

Everything strange and blue in the land and forgetfulness; beggars lying down, gold and dust and life and angelic hymns are always meant to fool to illusions and to play along the tides and double-life for the mirages and miracles of the green green goblin-world to play. Strange lights. Befall. Hues. I see you. Touch. Dead fingertips. Weary tulips.
Release the lilies from the river. Set them free. Forever.
Boat,
Float.

We speak of love and freedom from our turtle-turns
Staring. Hard. Long. Deep. Into the scars from the purple-burns

Music. Infinite. Slow. Streets swarming through with melancholic prophets and puppets and snippets of what-was-once and what will-be and then again, the what-is has her show tonight and she’ll dance and she’ll sing to the seagulls and the make-believe specters of the scepters and the figurines and statues with jewels to shine, shine shine bright in the light from our minds one whole and once, once guilt-washing rains to shower down from the other grey planets as portraits hung down the walls including Dorian Gray stare and admire the loop of our nooses and tomorrow, I go up the flames. Up the chimney. The chimney leads to the desert, and so does the sewer-pipe with bubbles shimmering in moonlight and this longing through postcards with pictures of warriors with roses…

Wild wild child!






Worms. Decay. Organs and orgasms by the oceans. Phantasms.
As skulls leave the void open rust in years in truth in tears and decadent verses striving for memories in the sweet incense of the faraway bridges arching, brooding, twining stresses through the dusk and those storms for a million-year-agonies and offsprings and wild pagan carnivals raging raging throughout. Molten eyes. Molten skin. Senses ablaze. Dead and numb. Speechless holograms. Sexless saxophones. Incarnations in loops. Ascending the altars to rewind the tide. And to remind the pride ....
Decadence…


Angel!

Will you not sing for those in the dark?
Will you not come back into the calm black of our minds?
Will you not come seeking for me in the stars?
Will you not free me from this unvoiced curse?
Will you not take off your robe of silk?
Will you not drink with me the moonlight milk?
Will you not walk with me in solitude?
Will you not drown with me in the holy nude?
Will you not wake up by the distant shore?
Will you not lose yourself in this jungle-lore?

Will you? Won’t you?

Tides….tides….

Windows. Clouds. Pavements.

Anoint the dead.
Stars and scars
The rest shall fade
Like lonely cars….

And the sky is red
But I dread the thread
Some people march in file
Others just stare and smile
By the electric-smoked-glasses of half-vision


Some people await the dawn.
Others tread away into oblivion
Winding through our placenta-symphonies…..

Legions and legions of parables, fable, photographs, heartbeats, soldiers, bayonets, crowns, thorns, kingdoms, statues, pavements and their ballads meander across our cottage door.
And inside,
Fires burn.
Flames leap up.
Dungeons groan
Dragons and stone
Alone.
All alone….
































And thus, these lost fables from this lost city seep their way into the soul of thirsty dead dreams and thirstless dead epics coiled up in the sacrament of eternal sleep…..Eternity.
Pure, Divine and Angelic…..

Of Pomegranates and other Regrets

I couldn’t see
Through the gates
But no one’s free
And no one waits

Wounded eyes
Speak of dreams
Songs arise
From severed limbs

The temple door
Loss and gain
The distant shore
Shines again

My lips are cold
My skies are red
My heart’s of gold
But it is dead

Skeletons moan
All alone
And the telephone
Has nothing to own

Circling through
This strange trapeze
The cactus grew
In holy breeze

I see your eyes
Distant, Greek
With voices, lies
And words to speak

This new skin
In lantern-haze
Folds within
The phantom-gaze

Icy-dusk
Reaching out
Wear the mask
For poisons sprout

Distant bells
They strike me hard
But a ship with sails
Is just a bird


There’s a name
In the wall
So feel the flame
Before you fall

I built this hall,
This funeral song
Where lizards crawl
And long to belong

The king’s behind,
The rook, ahead
The ancient mind
Has lost its thread


The nights are blue
With fog and rust
You are true
And I am dust

Ekta Kangaal-er Galpo

Ekta kangaal ekbar shwapno dekhtey cheyechhilo
Bheeshon bhabey bNachtey cheyechhilo

Taarpor, ekta gobheer jhhorer raatey
shey shob ayenagulo bhengey diye choley gYalo

Noiley aar kangaal kishey?



Punoshcho: Obhimaaner pNachil ta bhengey jetey jetey ekbaar shudhu bolechhilo:
“Amar aar kichchhu chai na. Kichchhuti na."

Elephants Never Forget

It’s my time to walk now
It’s my time to sing
Long shadows falling through
I can’t see anything

The road winds through the skies
The skies shall fall apart
And darkness eats the eyes
As the tree digs its heart


Broken men and broken birds
Bound to the same chain,
They cry out for some love,
For the rain knows no pain

Prisoners and puppets
In the strings of false hope
As the past steals the snippets
And the hangman oils his rope

There’s the dead soldier
He walks in the snow
Once the moon was older
But the blind had to go


As the parrots fly in pairs
With windchimes trapped in sighs
Withered away by cares
And music fills the skies


Every lie seems so true
As flutes lose their song
And I am a pilgrim too
But the night seems so long


My flag up that hill
It flutters in the breeze
And moments stand so still
While ghosts seek the seas

The gambler, he was brave
There’s wine in his flask
He lays there in his grave
And gambles with his mask

There’s a joker who was sad
He had the unknown fever
His tricks were not that bad
But then he became the river

A little girl was lost
She thought her life would end
Until the man of frost
Met her and became her friend


People live here,
Feeding their caged doves
And there’s the soothsayer
Who wears his iron gloves

Death stands by mirrors
Staring down the drains
I fear all my errors
And whatever that remains


Santa Claus lives in flames
He arrived long ago
He stole all our names
Though the horns refused to blow


I was a child of ash
Was raised to be a clown
But then I heard the crash
Of a house tumbling down

Play the music slow
Be gentle with the birds
The Ace is missing though
From your treasured pack of cards

My words have packed their bags
To catch the midnight train
My pain has stolen my rags
She’s dancing in the rain

The edge of the razor blade
Dreams of the feasts
Those farewells I never bade
They point at my wrists


And now it’s my turn to walk
It’s my turn to run
I won’t whisper, I won’t talk
I’m just waiting for the sun

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