Shabdaguchha
The International Poetry Journal in Bengali
Translated Poetry
9th Issue
July-Sept 2000
From Barishal to Briarwood:
Bengali Poetry in English
Abu Hasan Shahriar (1959-)
Spartacus
Who sends the death warrant to slaughter the green?
Thousands of trees protest with chorus of shadows.
The forest received the evergreen memorandum from birds.
Trees observed the heart-warming press release by the wind.
And insects broke out of curfew in long procession
Even worm has desolation, not only man as we think.
Our civilization has been a woodcutter,
Moves with double-edged axe.
Even vermin has its rights, not only man as we think.
Even ant and termite work hard, not only man as we think.
They also have their society and act of endless livelihood.
Never and not only man looks at the far village of green,
How superb the infinite life as sublime river
Of countless waves!
Rather not man, though the world that has been
A slave to him,
Trees, only the trees still fight for the freedom of slaves.
Translated by the poet
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Shabdaguchha, A Journal of Bengali Poetry, Published in New York, Edited by Hassanal Abdullah.