POEMS: Ekushey February
This is the Ekushey day-recalling the 21st of February
The day when a stirred-up race erupted incandescently
And till now, that day in Bengali minds shines brilliantly.
It’s a day for morning processions and bare-feet walks
For crimson-lined white saris and pinned black badges
For grieving people with bosoms bearing history’s burdens.
The day is all about the mother tongue and mother earth’s gifts
It is all about promoting harmony and humanity’s happiness
And reminding people everywhere about loving languages.
This is the day when all mothers won-their children as well
A day of condolence meets, silence and of victory eternal
Ekushey is the day of victors and of champions one can tell.
Ekushey is the day when Bengalis witnessed a spring mutiny
It’s the day when Barkat and Salam were killed cold-bloodedly
But the day when revolutionary hearts could take fire eternally.
Ekushey is all about fatherly affection and motherly love
It’s the day when brothers wear shawls their sisters’ think of
Ekushey is a spring day crimsoned in the blood-red of Bhador.t
Ekushey is when freedom came through a language for which blood was spilled
A day when independence came to a nation in whose people compassion flowed
It’s the day when egalitarianism became in the hearts of all people the proper creed.
tBhador is the first month of autumn symbolizing the loneliness of a person who is missing
his beloved.
Translation: Fakrul Alam
21st February – our identity’s core
-Hasan Hafiz
Ekushey-you’re the day when passions flamed and made history
You’re the bountiful sky glowing with comet-like daring
You don’t belong only to Bengalis anymore; this precious gift
Bestowed from blood spilled from love of one’s mother tongue
Is now for the world’s people; it’s the gift of indomitable youths
Who sacrificed their lives for civilization, Ekushey-
Your auspicious immortal melody is no longer the possession
Or heritage of Bengalis alone! Even in far-off Sierra Leone
In another part of the globe, one can hear your melody
In the ankle bells of its belles. The Bengali language’s classy cadences
Resound in newfound cultural pride. A sacrifice made at great cost
Now inspires others speaking other neglected mother tongues.
A once slighted but invincible language has ascended to glory,
Step by step, self-propelled, through movements and a liberation war
Fluttering of stringed dotaras, shapla flowers and doyel birds
And fierce roars came together to drive the tyrant to oblivion.
Ekushey is in truth the name of a freely-flowing river
And it’s this truth that we’ve been able to etch worldwide.
You enable languages spoken even by tiny communities to flourish,
Spread, be respected and conserved. You provide inspiration
To rebel against tyrants; you offer succor for one’s identity formation.
Translation: Fakrul Alam