Of a Niche / Abu Karim

There was a niche in the trunk

of a tree where there was a nest

of the magpie. Two young ones there

would sleep in safety and ease.

That nest was actually made by

a woodpecker that found the trunk

of the coconut tree easy to peck.

It made a deep niche with

its sharp beaks.

A couple of snakes were

roaming around the tree

in search of a safe shelter.

They were casting greedy glances

at the nest of the magpie;

a lonely kite was flying in the sky.

Within a moment it snatched at a snake

and killed it striking it frequently.

The other snake ran away to a deep wood;

their secret poisonous plan ended in smoke.

The two young magpies remained safe

in the deep niche of the coconut tree.

In that way a species of animals eat the flesh

of the other. Some of them live on fruits

and vegetables. Some of them inhale oxygen,

and others exhale it. Some of them inhale

carbon dioxide, and others exhale it.

Water flies up in the sky through

evaporation and makes habitations

of clouds. Autumn, like a beautiful

woman, wears a blue sari in just one

circle. The white clouds of late autumn

seem to pour themselves on the white

reeds with downy flowers.

The Kalboishakhi

renders the nests of birds asunder.

Who causes rain pour from the sky on

the hard rocks of the ground?

Who mixes fragrance of flowers in air?

Why do animals have so much taste in their tongue?

Why do sparrows copulate so frequently

and why human beings sparsely?

Why do they have so much beastly hunger?

Why do their eyes have so much lust?

Why does their imagination expand so vast?

5 September 2005

‘সুড়ঙ্গ বিষয়ক’ কবিতার অনুবাদ

[Translated by Dulal Al Monsur]