Motherhood

A single sperm swims with millions
by chance to meet and mate
and grow on womb wall:
Does that make a Mother?

Birth pangs rip through body
to release a babe, struggling and naive
into an unknown world:
Does that make me Mother?

Endless chores and demands
exhausting, repetitive, tedious
often performed like a zombie:
Does that make me Mother?

A pride, a glow, a tug
at the heart as child grows
seeing an image not quite me:
Does that make me Mother?

Fears and frustration, child leaves nest
urge to egg on or hold back
to match child's pace:
does that make me Mother?

Motherhood I know as
a force, a tie, a bond
centripetal and centrifugal
relating and comparing
understanding and bewildering
undeniable, living beyond death.

You say I'm rude
Perhaps you mean forthright?
You may be right
Or are you frustrated?
For you've lost control
And loss of power is bad
Neither is acceptable
I have a suggestion
Let's stop playing games
Hide and seek is for kids
Cat and mouse we'll leave
To detectives: a mason or Christie
Now comes pretense
That's not my cup of tea
Go imprison yourself willingly
Mind's your jailor, it holds you fast
World's so vast
I'll roam free
My shackles, broken once,
I'll make my new destiny. 

ওরে ওরে রাধারানী
শেষে করলি মন চুরি
তোর প্রেমে কালা মজেছে
আর আরেক বুকে ছুরি।

রাধা তুই বেসেছিস ভালো
ছলা কলা করিস নি তুই
তোর মনে নেই কালো।

তা বলে তুই ভাবিস মিছে
সখিরা তোর পাশে
ভুলতে কি আর পারে
তারা হেরেছে তোর কাছে। 

I bought a slave today

I bought a slave today
cheap as cheap could be
a few sweet words I used
then it came for free.

I'll use it as I will
call to bed or throw out
pet and caress
or beat with stick stout

I'll feed it with honey
or starve it for days
I'll go soft, I'll go hard
I'll treat it any which way

It's bound to me for life now
Let it stay long as I please
when its of little use
I'll discard it with ease

It'll stay in my kennel
and come out for work
it's safe here with me
unless it learns to bark

Its teeth I've broken first
no issues there for me
whatever it does can't bite
that's foresight you see.

A Woman's Failure

I failed
To build that wall
To take a call
To sail with the wind
To know my sin

Barbs I took
To heart like hooks
They dug deep
Took away sleep

You found me wild
Not quite your style
No bowing nor stooping
So world  would go whooping

A woman so fallen
To forget her calling
To stand and demand
Not obey command

I failed
To build that wall
To take that call
To sail with the wind
To know my sin.

Perspectives

Ever since you left I've known
I'll never be happy again
Days and nights might roll
I'll still feel the pain.

In loving I've erred
Bats can't fly by day
In loving I've missed
The coming of May

Open mind's not enough
Nor good intent
Hands held out in peace
Draw forth contempt.

I see tears in other eyes
Feel another heart's ache
They see me as vile
And tie me to a stake.

World's what we make it
No rights or wrongs
Take it as a battle
Or sing it as a song.

রাইয়ের কথা

শ্যাম বলে রাই সবুর কর
আসব আবার গোকুলে
কিসের এত ছটফটানি
কিসের এত ব্যথা
কেন কর বাড়াবাড়ি
অহেতুক ব্যকুলতা।

ও শ্যাম তুমি ছিলে না
এমন হৃদয় হীন
আমার প্রেমের ধরন দেখি
ভাব অর্থহীন।
আমি যে শ্যাম তোমা বিনা
নারি বাঁচিতে
সে কি আমার দোষ কানু
চাই ভালোবাসিতে?

তবে কেন তমাল তলে
আসতে নিয়ে বাঁশী
করতে এসে লীলা খেলা
পিছু পিছু আসি
পারিনে ভুলিতে সে দিন
একি অপরাধ?
ছুটে যাই তোমার কাছে
তাই তোমার বিরাগ

পড়েছি এ কি বিপদে
কারে বলি হায়
কানু কানু জপে বুঝি
পরাণ আমার যায়।।