Six professors of the Department of English of Dhaka University retired recently and were given a farewell on the occasion. The following poems were penned for this occasion.

Though not really tired of D.U., I've retired!

Definitely, there are things about the university

I'll miss after 42 years—bright-eyed students,

Like-minded colleagues and buzzing corridors,

Kala Bhabhan's adda-filled Teachers Lounge

And, my classes, where I felt most students'

Minds would quite often mingle with mine.

How could such things ever make one tired?

But as I retire I think too of things there tiring—

Dirty corridors, stuffy, crowded classrooms,

Fans and phones that hardly ever worked well,

Too many processions led by self-serving "leaders"

Too many colleagues courting administrative favors,

 Too many students in classes only for "marks",

An annoying dysfunctional semester system

And endless appalling scripts were truly tiring!  

But though some things did tire and I've retired

This I must say—48 years of D. U. wasn't enough! 

Now that I am past a major bend of life's road;

I know the path ahead of me won't be as rewarding

Certainly, D.U. was good to me. And for now?

Though what lies ahead of me I really don't know 

Surely my happy memories of D. U. will sustain me

As I move into the next phase of my life's journey!

A Plea!

Nafisa Jamal

FAREWELL! a formal word of salutation and recognition

has negative vibes attached.

A fearful finality, imposed shackles

and thoughts of impending doom!

Bid farewell to this year's Spring

and showers of Monsoon

with as much fervor as you can

for they will surely return 

to delight your sight and sense of rhythm

next year.

Spare humans given single cycles of life,

full of natural ups and downs,

traumas and unbearable circumstances at times.  

If one has found some peace somewhere, somehow,

let it remain with him or her.                               

Do not awaken miseries 

with a shocking FAREWELL.

No clamour please of tolling bells

just "Shantih, Shantih, Shantih."