Shabdaguchha
Shabdaguchha
Ahsan HabibIn Some Early MorningIn the early morning, how would you Become so miraculous . . . In some early morning. In some early morning how would you Smoothly warm up Such a sweet call, Such an intricate invitation That miraculously twists and turns my heart towards you. Your regular movement persists Throughout the whole day On the track that is right in front Of my house— But I give it no notice. The sound of your horn gets buried Under busy roar of domesticity. I keep on doing My housework. You take away and bring back the whole day long. I am unknown in my own circle, though I do also have my own horn. I have my own walkway— Stations and stops— I, too, move up and down blowing My own horn—so, your movement Does not make me pay that much attention, or It bores me when I eat and take a nap, And then I get up. In some early morning, you are not The train I know . . . The dusty moon of the blue sky, And the darkness of the whole World, you assume— Blowing your miraculous horn You keep on calling me as you go away— I wish that I could go with you. Ahsan Habib (1917 - 1985) was one of the significant Bengali poets of the 40s. He worked for the Daily Bangla (’62-’85) as the editor of its literary supplement. Mr. Habib, the author of 25 books, dedicated his life to build a notable voice in modern Bengali poetry and has been well respected as the reformer of the secular Bangladeshi poetic tradition that could easily be compared with his world contemporaries. Translated from the Bengali by Hassanal Abdullah |