Unknown Flowers / Abu Karim

Along the streets of Stavanger I’ve seen flowers

of unknown names, and colors-black, red, yellow, violet and so on,

Streets, groves and valleys- flooded with flowers,

fruits and deep green.

The sky covered with dense clouds,

sometimes smiles out up to horizon in wide whiteness.

Drizzling goes on –cold as a sharpened knife

pierces the uncovered parts of the body

and not a portion can be kept uncovered in such a cold.

Temperature goes down 1 or 2 degree centigrade

often even below freezing point.

Streets are free from dust,

and black smoke of vehicles nowhere existent.

Life in all people goes on speedy

as in roaming sheep, cows or clouds.

Two old women are working in the field-hands in gloves.

Their white teeth pour out sweet smile,

and blush waves on their red cheeks telling of the rind

of water melon.

Sea gulls fly to the crystal sky of Stavanger from North Sea.

North sea appears a wishing cow to the Norwegians.

Oil and gas- the two of liquid gold,

under the blue and crystal cold water of North Sea

have ensured endless comfort, peace, strength and plenty

for the people of Norway.

Norway, October 10, 1997

‘অচেনা ফুল’ কবিতার অনুবাদ

[Translated by Dulal Al Monsur]