RAFIQUE AZAD[1]
Be polite, apologize
Dear pen, don’t be obstinate, learn to be humble
Look, how these gentlemen got shocked
At your stubborn behaviour ,
So, be polite, apologize modestly, with clasped hands
Bow down to your knees, and tell, it won’t happen again, sir
Tell them, O middle-class gentlemen, Forgive me for this time.
Speak out, O pen, O ball pen,
O you my barbarian attitude of expression
I offer my penance, I will not reproach you again
I will learn to respect your hypocrisy
I’ll try to respect the immense strength of digesting humiliation
It won’t happen again, O honourable middle-class propensity
Like you, from now on, I’ll consume all the disgraces
And turn it to night-soil and throw those away outside my body
O untamed writing weapon, O inerasable ink, O mean ball pen
Be gracious, learn to be polite.
Become meek and mild, be gentle, like a gentleman
Try to hide unpleasant truth
Learn to tell lovable lies, sell out your conscious
Do not express such words, which will make them hurt
Be polite, try to be polite;
The pious discourteous mind and brain you have
Make them to be your obedient servant
O my rowdy pen, control your anger
Write like a man, pay respect to those gentlemen,
Try to learn attractive words that pleases your lordships.
O my pen, now become submissive, bow down,
46
Teach yourself all the behaviours of learned chimpanzees Therefore, be obedient, learn to be respectful, be polite.
If I get Love
If I get love I’ll again correct
All the errors of life
If I get love I’ll take up
All the bundles for the long road ahead
If I get love at the end of long winter night
I’ll get velvety days
If I get love I’ll leap over the mountain
And swim across the ocean
If I get love my sky will
Turn quickly into blue of autumn
If I get love I’ll get
Resonance in my life.
47
Remembering you
Recollecting you my blood turn into a stream
I like to think of you
You navigate through my path
Remembering you, even today
My blood churn through my heart always . .
It was not possible to walk side-by-side a long way,
We vowed to remain close both of you
Life-long through the road without destination
The road that met ahead of us in a cavity of light.
[1] Rafique Azad (b. 1941), first book of poems ‘Ausombhober Paye’ was published in 1973. Awards: Bangla Academy Award, 1981