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Ri Hossain
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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.