Poetry
Death News
Death news often comes
from my village.
And I, sitting here far away,
add those names
to the list of the dead.
But those faces, last seen
walking, playing, and smiling,
keep doing so.
DEFIANTLY.
Home
Mother, come and tell me-
if I should return home.
Father has left with another woman
and the sister who looked after us
also died last year.
Brothers have divided.
The kitchen where you cooked
has been demolished
to make room for the eldest brother.
Second brother has taken the yard
where you planted a guava tree.
Trees are now named
that were once ours.
Your almirah is removed
and I don't know
what happened to your cat.
Mother, come and tell me-
if I should return home.
I've met a beautiful girl
at a local store here.
Zahid Akter is Assistant Professor, Department of English, East-West University.
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