A Backward City I'm in Love with

Honk, honk the automobile keeps sounding.

The road is in shambles; a disquieting bluish light

Keeps flashing on and off.

Wild speed breakers rattle bones,

Suddenly, an odd brake screeches-

A mad man, angry at lovers

Who've taken over a children's park hollers:

'How can you smile, knowing this is the world we live in?'

A broken brick on his hand, he looks furious!

He's coming forward and I freeze

But my driver holds my hands tight:

'He has no guts, Mr.!

I'm here.'

Tea stalls across the street go wild

With the music of late 80s drums:

'Wearing discolored jeans

Lighted cigarette on his lips

Buttons of his red shirt wide open'

Dolly sings on.

Confused by the smile of a high school girl,

And seeing the red lights on the flooded street-

I fall in love again with my moribund city

I fall in love with Khulna yet again.

Md. Mehedi Hasan is a student of English at Khulna University.