Ahsan Habib

2 February 1917 - 10 July 1985 / Pirojpur / Bangladesh

The Sea Is Very Big

Do not ask me to be the wave of some vast sea.
I can agree though if you promise that the wave of the sea
Will but lose itself in the depths of the ocean and
Return again to the refuge of the childhood river.

I do not want to merge with the sea, for
It is vast, it has too great a pride,
And I am afraid of it.

It is bent on devouring the river
in intoxicated ravenousness, but
I refuse to be its victim: only
I can be its occasional companion
some morning, or,
May even go with it to the far distance
some lazy noon.

Provided it gives me the pledge
That each evening it will restore me to the quiet
River of my childhood, which I have seen
Flowing in my body and soul from birth,

That when I shall watch my river some winter night,
Sitting on its bank, it will fill this river of mine
With a new flood tide.

No oceanic cyclone
Only the soft drip-dropp of dew, like a musical tune,
Making the two 'bakul' branches on the bank
Mildly quiver.

Note: Bakul- A kind of flower tree.
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