Poetry By Ri Hossain: Young popular poet of Bangladesh

Ri Hossain   

Rebirth 

Let us be reborn anew,

Walk, sit, run, in ways brand new,

Laugh with words yet to be known,

As in times when words were unsown.

Let's speak in tongues of ancient days,

Where sound alone, its tale conveys.

 

Come, in a youth of different kind,

Love strangely, leave the past behind,

 

Then...

Let's forge a lexicon anew,

Spring and monsoon's statutes too,

Let's build a world of love's embrace,

Love, love, and love, in every space.

 

Then...

Let's birth a prehistoric race,

Forget the present, time and place,

Or fade away, in death's release,

 

Then...

Let us be reborn in peace...

 

©Ri Hossain

Ashes

Now, I walk aimlessly,

Talking to the sun,

Drenching in the rain, for no reason.

 

In empathy for the shivering birds,

I spend the nights with the fog,

Or, astray, I wander to your lane.

 

Every time I step into that forbidden lane,

I wish to know your well-being,

To know how you were, how you are,

Or, to show you how intensely I burn.

 

Mistaking the sound of knocking,

Every time you open the door,

You only find some ashes!

 

©Ri Hossain

Bargaining

The pain, with effort, I set free,

From my heart's depths, now in front of me,

Now, a bargain, it shall be.

 

I'll buy all from you, you see,

Flowers, desires, ivory's decree,

Nose ring, chin's mole, hair's tie so free,

Eye's kohl, heart's tremble, all of thee,

I'll buy you, utterly.

 

My pain, so rare, so dear, you know,

Will be auctioned in love's show,

In the market of love, let it flow.

 

No more deals in the market of lies,

No more, no more, under false skies.

 

Now, a bargain, it shall be,

How much can you sell, tell me?

How much can you sell, you'll see?

After buying, I'll set you adrift, empty.

 

Now, you'll be empty, you'll see,

How far can you float, tell me?

 

©Ri Hossain

Compromise

Darkness will soon be revealed...

Let's hide our pure sins, before they're unsealed.

 

Neat nakedness will swallow us whole,

Let's fall in love, before it takes its toll.

 

Let's fall in love, before it's too late...

 

©Ri Hossain

 

Half Poem

 

Not a tree,

But a half wall grew at our midpoint;

 

Half spring, half love,

Half Rain Fall, half Plenilune,

Half lust, half renunciation,

Our half lantern flew in one sky.

 

When we broke the wall with half death,

You lay half dead, on the other side,

 

The remaining half was a history of confused emptiness...

 

©Ri Hossain

 

My words escape before they're said

 

Before I can speak to you,

The words all slip away,

I gather them all day through,

Arrange them, hide them away.

I sing them songs to make them sleep,

And gently lull them to their keep.

 

Then, to tell you, I try once more,

An age's noon passed, a scattered afternoon,

A cup of tea, a careless pour,

And anxious evening, all too soon,

The night descends, a sudden fall,

A shadow cast, embracing all…..

 

Not science, but fate's cruel decree,

My words grow heavy, close their eyes,

In slumber's depths, they cease to be,

A dream-filled sleep, where silence lies.

 

Each time I wish to speak to you,

My words escape before they're said…..

 

©Ri Hossain

 

Politics-2013

 

I had a pure afternoon, and comfortable darkness,

I was supposed to write a fierce poem...

 

A vile fragrance wafts from the decaying sun,

I'm weary!

I'm weary!

Of this divided breath!

 

©Ri Hossain

 

Snail and Oyster

 

Everything retreats within its shell,

Walking on the chest, so easily to tell,

Secured backs sway and rock,

Each face, a cunning snail, a clever mock.

 

The pearls held dear within the heart's deep core,

Forgotten by the oyster, embarrassed evermore...

 

© Ri Hossain

 

THE DAY THE SUN WILL RISE,

 

Those not yet slain,

Their cries, still as death's demise,

They sleep, feigning life's domain,

No refuge but nightmares, their only prize.

 

For a time yet,

An eternity's stretch, vast and deep,

Their blood will freshen the wet,

The mud will thrive, the waves will weep.

 

Then one day,

After the hunt in murky streams,

Through shattered cries' dismay,

A blazing sun will break, it seems,

Startling the hunters, come what may,

United, deathless corpses roar in dreams.

 

History foretells,

They'll settle all the fish of their due,

The day the sun dispels,

The awakened deaths, they'll come into view.

 

©Ri Hossain

 

The Sigh of Fire

 

A scorching drought in my chest,

Rivers wither at my touch,

This burning disease, my test.

 

A tide of ash in my heart's core,

Premature love's fish, forlorn,

Finds only a desolate breeze to mourn.

 

If you wish, you can take,

The sigh of fire, for my sake...

 

©Ri Hossain

The Unwelcome

By Ri Hossain

 

When sleep descends at last upon the eyes,

As if a waking, tender to the touch;

The whole day, like a clear bottle, lies,

With turmoil stirring, oh, so very much.

 

And then the band of unwelcome guests arrive,

One by one, they come and then they go;

Some known, some strangers, memories strive,

Their identities in slumber's depths they show.

 

Before I drift to sleep, I come to know,

That none are truly known, nor quite unknown;

They are not familiar, this they bestow,

A fleeting joy, a dream that's only sown.

 

For now I know their faces, understand,

They're neither known nor strange, a phantom's guise;

In guiltless mornings, pure from sleep's command,

I wake to familiar clamor, in surprise.

 

©Ri Hossain

Then

 

Then, You gaze upon the sky...

Then, I see your blue saree's dye.

Then, The sky's blue hue, I quite forget,

Then, I seek the sky within your eyes, and yet...

 

© Ri Hossain

 

 

Biography of Ri Hossain

Ri Hossain is a prominent and passionate voice in Bengali poetry, recognized as a rebellious and resilient figure in the literary landscape. His poetry reflects personal experiences, societal conflicts, and deep social injustices, making him a significant commentator on contemporary issues.

**Early Life and Writing Beginnings**

Born on August 19, in 1981 (though some debate exists regarding the exact year), in New Senpur, Rangpur District, Ri Hossain grew up in a complex social environment marked by injustice and inequality. His father's ancestral home is in the village of Mosadgaon, Louhajong, Munshiganj. These early experiences of oppression and marginalization profoundly influenced his poetic voice.

Hossain began his literary journey in 1993 with the publication of his first poem, "Ei Borshay," in a local newspaper called *Juger Alo*. Over the years, he established himself within the literary community, addressing themes of social inequality, the suffering of the oppressed, and the tyranny of authoritarian regimes.

**Protest and Rebellion in Poetry**

Ri Hossain's poetry serves as a potent form of resistance. His work, particularly during the protests against quotas and inequality in July-August 2024, resonated deeply with the movements of the time. His poetry collection, *Kobitar Abhyutthan Chai* (I Demand a Uprising of Poetry), played a crucial role in the activism of 2024, especially the poem "Bidrohe" (In Rebellion), which inspired many and highlighted the plight of martyr Abu Sayeed.

He actively participated in these movements, often preparing for protests with meticulous care, sharing important information with his wife in case of his demise. His poems, such as "Amake Shoke Dhoreche" (Grief Has Taken Hold of Me), "Bivartan" (Evolution), and "Jhapata Batasher Gaan" (The Song of the Blustering Wind), capture the themes of grief, struggle, and the desire for change, portraying vivid imagery of both natural and social revolutions.

**Literature and Life Philosophy**

Ri Hossain views his writing as vital as air, intended not just for personal enjoyment but to raise societal awareness. In 2014, due to his rebellious writings, he faced pressure from the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and had to submit a written apology. Despite such challenges, he remained undeterred, continuing to explore deep themes of death, grief, and the essence of life in his essays and poems.

In June 2024, two of his poems, "Kapurusher Ma" (Mother of the Coward) and "Durbritto" (Ruffian), drew threats due to their anti-India sentiments. Nevertheless, he persisted in his literary pursuits, emphasizing that his life, like his writings, is intertwined with political and social contexts.

**Conclusion**

Ri Hossain is a poet of struggle, whose work awakens the human spirit and exposes societal inconsistencies, injustices, and disparities. His life exemplifies a commitment to society and a courageous stance against oppression. Through his poetry, themes of grief, protest, love, and deep social responsibility resonate powerfully, making him an essential voice in contemporary Bengali literature.