If I Speak

Tell me what to say when I need to speak,

If I have to say something,

So what can I say: look at that

Body of the night glowing

Like a negro woman in silver ornaments

Or if I say: sweet-voiced rivers

Still singing—

No one will listen to

These poetic words.

If I have to say something

I will say: the navigability of our rivers

Is decreasing bit by bit; in North Bengal

Winter clothing is a must-go;

America or Beijing—a helping hand

To whom to extend to? In this regard,

What does civil society think today?

Whose voice will I adorn with

This pearl pendant of poetry?

I know assassins spread around in my town.

Many a time I wanted to use poetry

As a weapon to kill them.

But poetry wanders only where

Boys tangle in afternoon playgrounds with colored balls,

Or hide its face in the darkness of women's hair.

This poem has been translated by Md Mehedi Hasan. He teaches English at North Western University, Khulna.