Kazi Nazrul Islam

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Kazi Nazrul Islam The Rebel (excerpt) Say, Valiant, Say: High is my head! Looking at my head Is cast down the great Himalayan peak! Say, Valiant, Say: Ripping apart the wide sky of the universe, Leaving behind the moon, the sun, the planets and the stars Piercing the earth and the heavens, Pushing through Almighty's sacred seat Have I risen, I, the perennial wonder of mother-earth! The angry God shines on my forehead Like some royal victory's gorgeous emblem. Say, Valiant, Ever high is my head! I am irresponsible, cruel and arrogant, I an the king of the great upheaval, I am cyclone, I am destruction, I am the great fear, the curse of the universe. I have no mercy, I grind all to pieces. I am disorderly and lawless, I trample under my feet all rules and discipline! I am Durjati, I am the sudden tempest of ultimate summer, I am the rebel, the rebel-son of mother-earth! Say, Valiant, Ever high is my head! I am the hurricane, I am the cyclone I destroy all that I found in the path! I am the dance-intoxicated rhythm, I dance at my own pleasure, I am the unfettered joy of life! I am Hambeer, I am Chhayanata, I am Hindole, I am ever restless, I caper and dance as I move! I do whatever appeals to me, whenever I like, I embrace the enemy and wrestle with death, I am mad. I am the tornado! I am pestilence, the great fear, I am the death of all reigns of terror, I am full of a warm restlessness for ever! Say, Valiant, Ever high is my head! […] [Translation: Kabir Chowdhury] At My Gaze No Longer Laughs the Rose At my gaze no longer laughs the rose, At the music of my words no longer blossoms forth the flowers What is the use of going to the fair With the garland of the withered smile? Dose the dark night amaze her disheveled hair Without looking at the moon for a while? The southern wind brings the springs yet But in the garden the nightingale sings no more. No more does the wild flower in the forest Dance at the sight of the moon Something is lost, something is missing, My heart feels so empty and old. Ah me, at whose cruel touch Has my heart grown so cold! Adorn Her How can I adorn her, With one basketful of flowers? The sky is overcast With her dishevelled Cloudy hair, Oh, how can I adorn her '? Why have you, oh gardener, Given me so few flowers, That they should disappear Before I could adorn her? Ketaki the monsoon's bride Putting the veil aside. Behind thorny secret, Woodland hides. The unruly Kamini withers Before I can touch her. Drunk in her own fragrance The tipsy chapa dances. The shameless damsel Togor Looks with her big eyes. But before she could wither The poor Bokul dies. [Translation: Syed Mujibul Huq]

The Rebel

(excerpt)

Say, Valiant,
Say: High is my head!

Looking at my head
Is cast down the great Himalayan peak!
Say, Valiant,
Say: Ripping apart the wide sky of the universe,
Leaving behind the moon, the sun, the planets
and the stars
Piercing the earth and the heavens,
Pushing through Almighty's sacred seat
Have I risen,
I, the perennial wonder of mother-earth!
The angry God shines on my forehead
Like some royal victory's gorgeous emblem.
Say, Valiant,
Ever high is my head!

I am irresponsible, cruel and arrogant,
I an the king of the great upheaval,
I am cyclone, I am destruction,
I am the great fear, the curse of the universe.
I have no mercy,
I grind all to pieces.
I am disorderly and lawless,
I trample under my feet all rules and discipline!
I am Durjati, I am the sudden tempest of ultimate summer,
I am the rebel, the rebel-son of mother-earth!
Say, Valiant,
Ever high is my head!

I am the hurricane, I am the cyclone
I destroy all that I found in the path!
I am the dance-intoxicated rhythm,
I dance at my own pleasure,
I am the unfettered joy of life!
I am Hambeer, I am Chhayanata, I am Hindole,
I am ever restless,
I caper and dance as I move!
I do whatever appeals to me, whenever I like,
I embrace the enemy and wrestle with death,
I am mad. I am the tornado!
I am pestilence, the great fear,
I am the death of all reigns of terror,
I am full of a warm restlessness for ever!
Say, Valiant,
Ever high is my head!
[…]
[Translation: Kabir Chowdhury]

At My Gaze No Longer Laughs the Rose

At my gaze no longer laughs the rose,
At the music of my words no longer blossoms forth the flowers

What is the use of going to the fair
With the garland of the withered smile?
Dose the dark night amaze her disheveled hair
Without looking at the moon for a while?

The southern wind brings the springs yet
But in the garden the nightingale sings no more.
No more does the wild flower in the forest
Dance at the sight of the moon

Something is lost, something is missing,
My heart feels so empty and old.
Ah me, at whose cruel touch
Has my heart grown so cold!

Adorn Her

How can I adorn her,
With one basketful of flowers?
The sky is overcast
With her dishevelled
Cloudy hair,
Oh, how can I adorn her '?

Why have you, oh gardener,
Given me so few flowers,
That they should disappear
Before I could adorn her?

Ketaki the monsoon's bride
Putting the veil aside.
Behind thorny secret,
Woodland hides.

The unruly Kamini withers
Before I can touch her.
Drunk in her own fragrance
The tipsy chapa dances.

The shameless damsel Togor
Looks with her big eyes.
But before she could wither
The poor Bokul dies.

[Translation: Syed Mujibul Huq]