Shamsur Rahman
A Legend


   It's an old tale. there was a meistersinger
   in a great country rich with gold and flower
   his melodies made the hearts of the old
   and the young men and women dance, so to speak .
   he was the hero of everyon's imagination.
   far and near he had to travel all over the festivals
   all year long ;a living legend, intoxicated by 
   the soooound of the festival drumshe would 
   sing the tunes that would make 
   roses, white lotuses, red hibiscuses
   and the tagora flowers bloom 
   in a moment the garden 
   would become a mass meeting.


   after some time because it was deemed
   necessary by the nominatedlarge organization
   like a flood he inundatedcontiniously 
   the ehole country with unstoppable lectures,
   the sound of the v oce that once expressed 
   the gesturesof flowers, melodies divine
   now that ssame voce rains
   numerous pewter and leaden parts.
        
Translation: Haider A. Khan