The First Rain of Monsoon / Abu Karim

The tender, deep green leaves of Peepul

from the top roof of an urban building smile out

in elation with the first rain of monsoon.

The heart of an adolescent girl inside a running Toyota,

the Peepul leaves and a pair of tenderly round breasts

dance in an unhesitant elation.

On the cassette player of the car a song plays on:

‘’Shawan ka mahina pabon korey shor.’’

Sunlight smiles on the leaves

in the sky.

An obsession lingers over the eyes of the girl

in the midst of rain.

July 15, 1995

‘বর্ষার প্রথম বৃষ্টি’ কবিতার অনুবাদ

[Translated by Dulal Al Monsur]