Date of Publish: 2020-11-21

A few poems of Anis Uz Zaman

(1)

When the moon gets lost

when the stars do not sprout

I glide down along the lonely river

in the moonlight of your eyes

The dotara is playing

on the ripples

Your zeal gets lost

in my eyes of clay

Jackals howl in the darkness

of both the banks

Winter noons

hit me in the heart

Thus days roll by

In the river keep humming

the stars still in bud

Youth dashes at the banks

(2)

Over the snowy mountain flew away

a gaggle of wild geese

At Gulmarg then the dusk fell

On the cheeks of the girl aged eleven

selling apples at Dal Lake

the yellow water lilies

got faded

In some houseboat

gleaming in the moonlight

an ancient whoop died down

That ancient intoxication was more honeyed

than the apples of Khursid bhai’s orchard

In the distant shepherd village

played a honeyed wail

The fingers of Shivkumar deftly knotted

the nights of Darbar

Lightning-like the grapevines flashed

through hearts through snows

through yellow water lilies

through the arms of young boatmen

rowing at Nageen Lake

In the grove of Chinar trees

that old malady

returned to me only once

(3)

I have left you far behind

I’ve galloped my horse

I’ve crossed the valley

I’ve climbed over the hill of rock and red soil

I’ve passed by the thirty-two young men

biting the dust

I’ve crossed the red river

At the foothill I’ve heard the deer

abruptly stop bellowing

In my heart

is raging all along

that roar

Bitter hollow gaunt this body

Scores of graves I’ve trampled over

I’ve come along the path moist with your tears

my body and soul laden with the cartridges

I’ve crossed forests and woods

I’ve trampled on the blood of youths of Madura*

I’ve left you under the shades of

The dry ajar and cacti

Do you recall our chats

swimming around in the blue river of night

(4)

With the riverine yellow wind

he turns up On his forehead

the promise of the sun

On his lips flows

the laughter that echoes

in the distant hills in the green

in the silvery veil of moonlight

Who is he

Does the ancient blood

flow in his hands

in his swaying gait

Lifting her face towards the sky

Kamala Kunwari is drowning

And he gazes at

the ripples

(5)

(In memory of Garcia Lorca)

 

The gleaming moonlit night

the gleam on the stream

Lolita bathes

her breasts

with salty water

The streams dying of thirst

With a thud

falls a twinkling star

In Lolita’s fist

a silver sword

slashes

the water of the stream

Lolita is woken

by the breeze of the stream

On the quiet

drops a night flower

The stream dreams

in the warmth of Lolita’s thighs

(6)

Now I’ve nothing to do at all

I’ve swum across

the surging rivers of rainy summers

I’ve climbed up

the slender betel palms

Crossing over the steep hill

I’ve seen flowers bloom

in the valley beyond

I’ve picked up calls of

lots of birds small and big

I’ve learned even the language

of thirst and hunger of the baby

Many a time I’ve run for life

for fear of people and

hid in the dark jungle

Under a banyan tree

I’ve brooded over things

all alone for a month

Whatever river and lake

whatever brook and stream

whatever hill and dale

whatever light and darkness

whatever day and night

whatever mercy and hatred

whatever attraction and repulsion

whatever laughter and tear

whatever fire and water

whatever life and death

I have seen them all

I have got them all

I’ve felt them all

Is there anything left

to be done on earth

Even if there is anything left

or nothing

sit by me and try to listen

For me there is nothing to be done

Just for once

I want to meet you all

and speak up

(7)

Who has told you

spring comes at the cuckoo’s call

Who has told you

it is autumn when leaves fall

Ask the girl having a period

how she drenched in the rain

Ask the bird

how the spring has wetted the leaves

(8)

Birth

Blazing sunshine

and torrential rain

both are

severe to me

because at my birth

there was no rain

no sunshine too

The tears of the woman

crying in labour pangs

drenched my body

The unknown woman

holding me upside down

shook me

From my mouth came out

a trickle of blood

which was given to me to suck

Both the pupils of my eyes

were transposed

and through the dark window

the dim fireflies were shown to me

A green leafy twig

was given in my hands to hold

Since then

I’ve not tasted blood of anyone

I’ve not glowered at anyone

I’ve not given any trail of darkness to anyone

I’ve not picked up any

dead branch and fallen flower

(9)

The Blue Envelope

You’ve sent the envelope

Will I send in the envelope itself my heart

Collect the words

the wind can’t carry

yet when dropped in water

making a ripple they smile

You’ve sent the envelope

Will I send in the envelope itself silence

a sad experience

in which you might hum a song for yourself

the smouldering heart

You’ve sent the envelope

Will I send in itself moonlight

as well as a lost past

in which gathering the fireflies

you could light up the heart

Such an envelope contains

sadness and sorrow

laughter and delight

hope and despair

hints of gain and loss

In the envelope love leads the triumphal march

Why have you stuffed my heart

with the past crumpled in

the blue envelope

(10)

Namrup Namrup

If I were a droplet

I would drift with the mist

If I were fragrance

I would waft along with the wind

As I’m a human I’ve talked about time and body

From here I’ve seen the smiles of your moon-faces

Both your pain and delight have hit my heart

What shall I say

Since the dawn you have waited

at the mouth of the Dihing

to have a listen

You are graced with

name and looks

Who will say

His majesty the king left you here

Not to talk of the village or the town

between you and me

there is no brook

no tree

not even a leaf

How close you are to me

who could say

 

About the poet-

Anis Uz Zaman is a renowned poet based in Assam’s capital city Guwahati. His collections of poems include Aggyate (1989), Godhuli (1994), Seujia Joon (1999), Ai Batediei (2019) Dukmukali (2014), and Anis Uz zamaner kabita (in Bengali, 2010). His Nirbasita Kabita (first edition in 2016 and second edition in 2020) has been included as reference book for post graduation classes in Dibrugarh University. He has also edited eight books on poetry. His edited book on poetries of Mofizuddin Ahmad Hazarika titled Prajya Sindhu Kabi Mofizuddin has also been included as reference book for post graduation classes in the Department of Assamese, Gauhati University. He has received a number of awards and honour including Sahitya Jyoti, Kabya Hridoy, and Ekushe Sanman Honour for Poetry, Peace Friendship, Kabyarratna Writer Excellence from University of Science and technology, Meghalaya. He has represented Assam in poets’ meet in different parts of the country and also in Thailand and Bangladesh. He was also the President of All Assam Poet Association for two terms. His books for children include Binanndia Nadir Aru Barania Charaie, Ajarar Bozarot Bejerar Puhariw, Bortukular Mel, Tumi mur Joon Gadhulir Xun, Hathat Edin Siriakhanat. His edited books include Amulya Baruah: Dristi aru Darsham (2015), Janachetaner Kabi Ram Gogoi (2015), Sabdaheen Barnamala (on poet Hiren Bhattacharjee 2016). He has jointly edited with poet Rajib Borah three other books- Saat Samudrar Chankha Bajisene Nai(On Poet Nilamani Phukon, 2017) Khel Vonga Khel (On poet and lyricist Parvati Prashad Barua, 2019) and Pramathes Barooah, Rajhoulir Pora Chabigrihaloi(on the leading film producer and director of Indian films, 2019).

About the Translator

Nirendra Nath Thakuria (b. 1960- ) translates Assamese literature into English and his translations have appeared in Kavya Bharati, Chandrabhaga, Indian Literature, Yaatra, The Oxford Anthology Writings from North-East India, Poetry and Essays, and Dancing Earth: An Anthology of Poetry from North-East India (Penguin Books). Mr. Thakuria worked as Associate Editor of Yaatra and as Literary Editor of Assam: Land and People. He edited Democracy of Umbrella, a collection of English translations of Anubhav Tulasi’s Assamese poems. He can be reached at 98640 90267 or [email protected], [email protected]