Altaf Hossain

  To Lord Buddha, from Ashva Ghosha :

  ( with apology )

You ran away in fear.

Twenty-four hours I suffer from tender joints

severe headache

And when I saw Lolita disheveled

I forgot my fear  of death

I got busy to gather ambrosial enjoyment ;

She does not look as if she is made of illusory

                                                          matters,

or any of us are deprived.

I have seen salvia oozing out of her mouth

I have sucked those like honey.

And can you imagine because she is imperfumed

strong sweat kisses her body, all the while ?

( And do forgive this indecent question )

Is it not kind of mental allergy, your fear

                               and disdain ?

The returning birds come home singing

To be natural and open

I also break in the dance of life

A few moments disease gets cornered

                                     in fear

A few moments of fearlessness,

And is it not fearlessness which is eternally alive and

                                                                          young ?

                                                   Translated by Suraiya Khanum

Altaf Hossain (1947--)

Poet. Poetry : Sajal Vairabi (1972), Lajuk Octopus (1978).