Life of Crows / Abu Karim

In our country we encounter  flocks of vultures, kites,

herds of hyenas and hungry tigers.

So, humans, other birds and fish have no safety.

We have no open field to roam with

a carefree mind; like an unmoved stone

at the corner of a room we have been

confined to our respective residences.

A couple of crows weaved a nest

beside my porch. I saw many nests of crows

in my childhood and adolescence, but I have

never observed everything of their life

with such a keen attention.

On a triangle unsteady branch of a golden

champak tree the couple built their nest

with a great care. They had spent quite a long

period of time in search of the ingredients of

the nest.

Small pieces of wood, broken pieces

of branches, rusty left-away pieces of ware

had the combination of the nest at least to

make it inhabitable somehow. One day I

noticed that the female crow had laid eggs,

and the male one was in watch for the safety

of the eggs. That was the time to render efforts

to hatch the eggs.

The female crow did so all

day long, and the male one would collect food

and feed his companion. That was a nice sight

to enjoy.

In the mean time once there was a

sudden attack of Kalboishakhi that

rendered  everything upside down. Two

trees were lying on the road broken

in front of Ramna  Police station . At night I felt

restless for the safety of the nest, but

with the grace of God it remained intact.

Then the act of hatching went on as usual.

My mate who has been with me for thirty six

years once told me that she heard

that crows change their partners every year.

Maybe she was right. Of course, I am sure

they feel the same joy in hatching eggs

with their new partners.

31 March 2012

"কাকজীবন" কবিতার অনুবাদ ।

[Translated by Dulal Al Monsur]