The journey beyond awaits for me not.

It is I, who, wait for it to come.

Come and wrap me in your arms,

Unfold my journey beyond.

Tasneem Hossain, a renowned multi-lingual poet from Bangladesh, shares her poems

Tasneem Hossain, majoring in English Language and Literature is a multi-lingual poet from Bangladesh. She writes poems in English, Urdu and Bengali. She is also a columnist, fiction and op-ed writer, translator, educator and trainer. Her impactful writings appear frequently in esteemed publications worldwide like: Human Rights Art Movement, Wordsmith International Editorial, Southern Arizona Press, MockingOwl Roost, Setu, Pen magazine, Valiant Scribe, Prodigy Magazine (USA), Borderless Journal (Singapore), Discover Mississauga and More-eBook, Mindtalkers (Canada), Dark Thirty Poetry Publishing, Krishnochura (UK), Polis Magazino, Homo Universal (Greece), Borderless Journal (Singapore) Worvid and Homagi International Magazines (Indonesia), INNSÆI Journal, Cultural Reverence, MicroPoetry Cosmos, The Fatehpur Resolution, TAAHIRA E- ZINE, Khwahish (India), Sindh Courier (Pakistan), Orfeu.al (Kosovo), Alessandria Today (Italy), Atunis Galaxy Poetry (Belgium), Gazeta Destinacioni (Albania), EDAS Chronicle, The Dhaka Literature, An Ekushey Anthology, Dhaka Prokash 24.com, bdnews24.com, The Daily Star, The Business Standard, Asian Age Online, Daily Observer (Bangladesh). She is an author of three poetry books: ‘Grass in Green,’ ’The Pearl Necklace,’ ‘Floating Feathers’ and a book of articles ‘Split and Splice’. Four more books are underway.

Poetry, to her, is music through words; an ever-flowing river reflecting all that surrounds us. As an author, she tries to spread message of love, hope, mercy and create an awareness of social responsibilities and human rights. She worked as faculty of English Language in CUET. She is the director of a prominent human resource development organization Continuing Education Centre (Bangladesh) and Cansaz Services and Distribution LLC (Canada). She has 27 years of experience as a professional trainer. She runs an international poetry writing project and group named Life in Lyrics. A sportswoman, she also worked as newscaster, commentary reader and radio presenter in radio Bangladesh for 10 years and directed dramas like Shakespeare’s, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.

The Journey Beyond

The journey beyond awaits for me not.

It is I, who, wait for it to come.

Come and wrap me in your arms,

Unfold my journey beyond.

 

Why must we feel sorrow on our demise?

From the very beginning we belong to that existence divine.

When God meant us all to rise,

We fell when Adam and Eve sinned, with Satan’s design.

 

Here, we are all confined,

Working our ways to our lives, redefine;

Or, yet again, yield to devil’s disastrous malign.

We must all pine to shine.

 

Let’s redeem our lives from that disgrace.

Do powerful, positive things for human race.

Take nature and everything living in love’s embrace.

Let this journey lead us, at its own pace.

Welcome that final life with grace.

***  

Silence

Dark clouds hovered across the sky.

Tightness choked her throat, she yearned to die;

Sleep, a wanderer, roaming around on a deserted land,

Heartaches have left her with peace denied.

 

The phone shrieked through the silence.

The wait was over, she jumped and pranced,

Out of the bed, she ran, with what to say all planned.

‘Hello’ she chuckled.

 

Torrents of abuse

Why, why, why? And don’ts!

So many why’s and don’ts.

What could she say?

Click…..

Standing like a stone, her heart bled.

Dragged and dumped her on the bed;

The thunderous silence of the night,

Grinding its teeth chewing her heart in contempt;

 

Suddenly the world rolled upside down.

Chaotic sound buzzed inside her crown,

Dogs barking, cars honking amidst the crowd,

Crashing lightening crackled clouds;

 

And then again sad silence reigned.

She stayed awake, it started to rain.

Soaked in water her pillow drenched;

Miserable she lay awake and wrenched.

 

Morning grey lights darkened the room.

Time dragged by slowly in gloom;

Flushed cheeks and swollen eyes,

Lips charred with incessant cries.

 

Stomach churning in pain and thirsty mouth,

Aching head and burning breath of youth;

Dizzy and dark deep sleepy eyes,

Dragging drudgery of unfortunate time;

 

The sun set and then an easy calm,

Silvery moon and thousands of stars spark.

Criinnggg….

Her heart misses a beat,

Tears roll down her cheeks;

With trembling hands, she picks the phone;

‘Hello’ her voice breaks as she moans.

 

Sweetly, softly he explains his case,

In calm reassuring way things of relevance;

Never saying ‘Sorry’ but saying it all,

With his imploring voice and chivalrous tone;

 

She smiles and listens, her eyes are wet.

As always not letting her speak and rest,

He hangs up the phone, lest he again be upset;

She wants for him all that is best.

 

Honest he is and has passed his test,

Child at heart, unique and above the rest;

Hurting anyone not in his veins, she knows;

Only needs, to control angry outbursts to glow.

 

Dancing her way to the bed she swirls,

Beautiful butterflies, rain music fills;

Sweet silence sings a lullaby,

To the yearning eyes so brown;

Tenderly in the arms of sleep she drowns.  

***

This is my life

If death comes now, I will brush it aside.

I will go on lighting the candle of life.

Give music to each breath of mine,

Receive God’s gifts with arms open and wide.

Live my life with zest, dignified.

If death comes to take me now with pride,

It will be ashamed, in its own stride.

________________  

Read: Time Dimension – Poetry from Bangladesh