Poems of Kazi Nazrul Islam

A parting

It was no passing encounter on the street,
dear friend.
It was no momentary conversation
on the side-walk.

It was no casual handclasp
at the sudden close of a trip .
You came close to our soul
unfolding yourself moment by moment.
You came not as a conqueror
but as a comrade.
With your smile you won
our hearts.

You did not occupy the throne
and become a king
You entrenched yourself in our hearts
and became a sovereign there.
And so you suffered more than us
when the time came
to say goodbye and depart,
Through timeless acquaintance
 you had become one of our own.
Now in our million bleeding hearts
you will forever live as a
tender grief.

I know I’ll see you again,
dear friend.
Ours was no casual meeting

[Translation : Kabir Chowdhury]

Adorn her

How can I adorn her,
With one basketful of flowers?
The sky is overcast
With her dishevelled
Cloudy hair,
Oh, how can I adorn her’?

Why have you, Oh gardener,
Given me so few flowers,
That they should disappear
Before I could adorn her?
 
Ketaki the monsoon’s bride
Putting the veil aside.
Behind thorny secret,
Woodland hides.

The unruly Kamini withers
Before I can touch her.
Drunk in her own fragrance
The tipsy Chapa dances.

The shameless damsel
Togor Looks with her big eyes.
But before she could wither
The poor Bokul dies.

[Original : Ek dali phule;
Translation : Syed Mujibul Huq]

A hymn to the Jail Super

In your jail you care for us to the hilt,
blessed you are, blessed you are!
This song of mine is in your honor,
blessed you are, blessed you are! !

You have stationed guards at our doors,
in the dark rooms, chained us with such
affection as if we were your sons-in-law,
blessed you are, blessed you are! !

Grubs of salt and unrefined rice
bring water to my mouth,
some hotchpotch of throw-away veggies too,
blessed you are, blessed you are! !

Catch, Uncle, catch some slaps & blows-
certain to straight away send you to Goya,
along with your entire clap,
take it: you skinned white-leprous body,
blessed you are, blessed you are! !

[Original : Super Bondona;
Translation: Sajed Kamal]