Only Sleep I Seek

 The sky was different today,
 the wind's scent was all wrong,
 blue had hidden somewhere,
 clouds held tears in their eyes,
 light wore sleep on its skin.
 Still you cried...the clouds are coming, clouds are coming!
  
 There at the bend in the road,
 burdened by birth, a child walks whimpering;
 you went there, reveled terribly in your snacks,
 poor thing was looking at you then, all tears.
 Didn't you see?
 On that street......all the dogs and cats that wander,
 how they wept in harsh voices,
 didn't you see that either?
 At that crossing in Chowringhee,
 the beggar was crying, you said......and fled,
 don't you remember?
  
 You understand poetry, you don't understand tears!
 You and I need prose, need verse,
 he needs only two fistfuls of rice,
 nothing else.
 When you scold me harshly,
 I cry plenty;
 life scolds them just as harshly.....but they don't cry!
 One who has no one to understand their pain doesn't weep.
 Their tears......dry up, reveal the pretense!
 They too had fathers, had mothers,
 only love was missing!
  
 Children exist—born and done with;
 such existence, many such exist,
 no tenderness or affection.
 Holding a small strip of land
 Shiuli's father weeps against his chest,
 no one sees.
 All their rage and hurt—with the river alone!
 They talk with the current,
 converse with the waves,
 race with the banks......and homes break.
 The river swallowed Shiuli's mother long ago!
  
 Yesterday's pale grasses—
 crushed; yet see how they wake and smile, startled!
 Nothing else, they only want light,
 they never asked for spring's call.
 Youth flows like a river
 winding......toward the sea's summons!
 Waves rush—to our hearts, arms, thighs and shoulders.
 All our love, all consciousness's gold—
 cries out, today at least let me stay alive
 with flowers among people,
 kissing death's breast!
  
 Could I have a little sleep, sleep?
 Tired or weary sleep,
 sleep of tears or laughter?
 Any sleep will do perfectly!
 Won't you give me a little sleep?
 In return I'll give my heart!
 Need more?
  
 I'll give you a strong rib—walk on it.
 I'll give you a blue glass bangle—try playing it!
 I'll give you dream-touched smiles filling both eyes—stay well.
 I have no home left,
 no roof or hearth—what else can I give?
 I'll give you a sky full of sun,
 rain-heavy clouds,
 what more will you take?
 I'll give you this ascetic heart!
 I want nothing—just give me a little bit of sleep?