The Magician

The Magician
Syed Kawsar Jamal
The boat sails through the veins of the Sunderbans.
A magician riding over the waves and making whispering sound
The engine pulsed while the Matla river expanded
And its curly waves drummed softly in our ears.
Mere onlookers we keep our eyes open. Always.
The Royal Bengal lie in wait in a bush but we cannot see him
The magician showed us a crocodile while basking on the sand
Jumps in and disappears. A green island raised its head
And vanishes again. The tide gushes in like a pregnant tigress
That visits the locality to deliver her cub. We hear the still thunder
Of the voice- only to find footprints on the mud next morning.
The magician exudes happiness in his eyes.
What happiness ? For we know where we go silence is shattered
And our dear magician disappeared like happiness and your smile.
We walk along the banks. No animal faces, no magician
To take us through the jungle. We pray for the magic
For the magician too. He must jump out of water like a playful fish
Why don’t you join us, the mysterious and unknown ?
( Translated from Bengali by the poet )