Jogphal

Healthy water-bodies are sunk by envy-blind waste's outburst  
All former fames of air break down 
Like lost love the mind of sky is broken into pieces. 
I see the lament-wet trees 
Who are condemned to die without crime 
When obscure laws are in vogue 
To strangle birds' throats.
Blossoming doesn't make flowers 
Rusts accumulate on grass blades. 
Theories heavy as hills 
Questions, anachronistic tree-policy  
What's their use to man and nature?
Best is the policy–a permanent good– 
If we can cover up the greedy tongues 
With delicious fruit trees and 
Multitude of cheerful flowers. 
Sun's rays in the cloud are waiting for us 
Crop's fresh glow, divine-good sunny-future. 

Translated from Bangla by Md. Abu Zafor.

Faruk Mahmud is a contemporary Bangladeshi poet. He has received a number of awards namely, Sukumar Ray Sahitya Puroshkar in 2009, Kabi Uttam Das Sriti Puroshkar in 2017, and Arani Sahitya Puroshkar in 2017, among others. His last volume of poetry Andhakarer Utsho Hote Utsarito Alo came out in 2023.

Dr Md. Abu Zafor is Associate Professor, Department of English, Jagannath University.