Ahmed Safa

 

Native Land

 

 

Mother, your tears are like rosary beads.

They burst out at the speed of the Shankha river

and inundate your cloudy face  in lines.

Mother, why don’t you howl

                           like a Royal Bengal Tigress ?

 

The bone of the dead is wonder-struck.

the river swells full in tide,

the red drama is imminent,

the time ripens—

Mother, why don’t you wear

                        the blood-red attire ?

 

 

                                 Translated by Muhammad Nurul Huda

 

 

Ahmad Safa (1943—2003)

Poet, Novelist, Essaist, Translator and Story writer.  Poetry :  Ahmad Safar Kovita, Jallad Somay {1974).  Novel : Surja Tumi Sathi (1967), Omkar (1975), Gabhi Bittanta (1994), Essay : Ahmad Safar Probandha (1992), Bangali Musalmaner Mon (1979), Buddhibrittir Natun Binyas (1973), Translation : Tania (1967) , Faust (1986), Story : Nihata Naksatra (1969), Awards : Itihas Parishad Puraskar (1980).