Have the poet read the original poem

SEVEN POINTS TO CONSIDER:

1. Who is speaking (who is the 'persona')?

2. What are the literal meanings of the words?

3. What does the speaker think is being said?

4. What do you think is being said?

5. What do you think of what is being said?

6. What is the tone of the poem?

7. Are there any puns, rhymes, double meanings,
line lengths or structures to consider?

ORIGINAL POEM
BY HEERON BEGH (IN BENGALI)
(read at  the National Poetry Day Reading 2005)

Neel phaguner hawayay



Jagaye shuker e shopon

Praymere pinjare jadi

Badha pode (pore) mon.



Shagorer teere teere

Bohay jokhon hawa

Bhalo lagey tokhon

Chokhay chokhay chawa

Neerobey khoney khoney

Mon-ey jagey shihoron.



Ontore ontore bajey

Shur jana ojana

Hariye ja aye mon

Jeno chariye shimana

Shuker e abashay praan

Shudhu korey uchaton.

LITERAL TRANSLATION
provided by workshop member Bithi Das)

The blue breeze of spring

Fills my heart of happy dream

If I am in the cage of love

I become captive ? my mind becomes captivated





In the sea shore ? beach ? strand

When the wind blows

I feel happy ? I love it

You looking at me I looking at you

In silent every moment

I shiver ? the shivering comes in my mind





In my heart it rings

The reaason known and unknown

My mind gets lost

It goes beyond the limit

My soul for the happiness

Only I feel to die for this happiness

The blue blue breeze of spring

Trigger the dreams of happiness

If I am locked in the cage of love

where your mine becomes captive

In the sea shore

when breeze comes

I feel then

to look at your eyes

In every moment of silence

When you think and there's a shiver in my heart

There's a music in heart to heart

There is a tune known and unknown

It's not going to be lost

My mind goes beyond the limit

My soul for happiness

Only chanting for happiness

I feel so happy

That a shiver runs over my body

Only I feel to die for this happiness.

It goes beyond any reason

I want my heart to miss

So that my mind will sing.

HEERON BEGH'S POEM 27.07.2005
[translated by Bithi Das, Patsy Futatsugi
and Kim Morrissey)


IN THE CAGE OF LOVE

Breezes of blue spring

Fill my heart with dreams

I could be in love

My heart and soul seems

In the shore of the sea

Silent wave touching wave

Locked in the cage

Of love I shiver again

Again Again

The music of our hearts

The chiming of my soul

Tunes known and unknown

Spring, sing, ring, roll

To the limit of my happiness alone

I die then.