Sajjad Sharif

A broken staff in hand
I move in search of prey
Over the horizons
...

I'd like to cross over to the other shore of words

I find everything too meaningful, too true
All things marked are transformed into words
...

Now that you have come fluttering, O Wings, will you,
O Self-manifest, claw me away from this swamp?
As I drift deep into the forest at night
...

I forbade you to leave, but
you
didn't listen
...

In this sleeping, sunken village
The wind scattered and foreign
I get to know her or I don't
Through signs beyond language
...

Dense night - and a relentless wingless flight

Translated from Bangla by Subrata Augastine Gomes
...

In flower-gardens he builds others abodes,
His own on the roads

Half the moon in his hand and half his dreadlocks hide
On a moonless night
...

Sunshine piercing my skin, I saw you cross the acacia trees
You were leaving, but the boat had already left.
You looked back just once, but all around you
There were strong sunbursts driving nails into my eyes.
...