Murshuda Ahmed

In pursuit of splendor
Days, nights, years and months
Like mirages of the desert, all are scam
I look for brilliance
But beauty does not step on my lawn by mistake
I keep my muddy lawn clean by wiping time and again
In its boundaries I plant bean and gourd seeds
I erect shooting platform
Keep grass-covered bed clean and tidy
But no loveliness peep at this desired path
Only diurnal leaving of bed
No charm play by my eyes hiking glass-pane of my heart
The sun rises at the beauteous haggardness
It is better that let the sunless darkness remain with me
I will cremate all the loveliness in this darkness
 I abhor the heatless warmth
Lightless illumination is not for me
And again and again I discover myself
In the heatless warmth of the bathroom.

Translated by Siddique Mahmudur Rahman