Poetry: Kazi Nazrul Islam
Proloyullash
The Ecstasy of Destruction
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Ring out your notes of triumph!
The storms of Baisakh come unfurling the flags of the new.
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Here he comes, the mad dancer, drunk with destruction;
With one shout he shatters the gate on the shores of the seas.
From the cave of death, from the well of darkness,
The eternal executioner comes in the midst of incense and smoke.
Lighting the torch of thunder comes the terrible one,
Laughing his terrible laugh!
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Ring out your notes of triumph!
He tosses his wavy locks, rocking the heavens;
The destructive comet's tail trembles in fear.
On the breast of the universal Father,
His blood-smeared sword
Dandles like a child.
In this tumult and commotion the earth grows numb.
The earth grows numb.
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Ring out your notes of triumph!
The light of a dozen suns shines in his burning eyes;
The sorrows of this world are enmeshed in his tangled locks.
A teardrop from his eyes causes
The seven seas to swell and rise
Under his forehead.
Cradling Mother-Earth in his brawny arms,
He roars, "Hail to destruction."
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Fear not, fear not. Destruction gathers strength the world over;
The decrepit, dead, and dying flee and hide.
This time after the dark night
Dawn will come, the sun will laugh
In compassion.
In the unkempt locks of the sky shines the infant moon,
His light will fill your room.
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Ring out your notes of triumph!
In his chariot, the eternal charioteer whirls his whip;
The neighing of his horses resounds in the song of thunder, storms and hurricanes;
Their powerful hooves scatter the stars in the blue sky.
In the dead well of the dark dungeon,
The gods are tied to sacrificial stakes
At the stone altar.
It is time for his chariot to appear, its wheels rumbling,
Its wheels rumbling.
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Why do you fear the sight of destruction?
Destruction is the pain of new creation.
The new is coming to destroy the dead and ugly!
That is why he comes in unkempt hair and dress
Bringing destruction he still comes laughing –
Laughing merrily.
The eternal beauty knows how to destroy and build anew.
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Destruction and creation are part of his game. Why then are you afraid?
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Wives, hold aloft your lamps of welcome.
The beautiful one comes in the guise of the terrible!
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Ring out your notes of triumph!
Niaz Zaman is an academic, writer and translator