(translated by Noor-E-Fatima Mosharraf Jahan)
While eating the leftovers from last night,
Don’t I miss you? I do.
Don’t I love you? I do.
My leaky faucet drips all day
And, in its ever flowing water,
I rinse my mouth after meals.
While eating the leftovers from last night,
Don’t I yearn for love? I do.
Don’t I utter your name? I do.
I feel pangs of remorse that sear me
More than the flames on a stove.
While eating the leftovers from last night,
Don’t I shed tears? I do.
I compose the poetry of sautéed greens
And, in a large pan, I cook dinner for two.
While eating the leftovers from last night,
Don’t I ruminate at all? I do.
Don’t I realize it all? I do.
But, does that end my cravings for you?
The leftovers remind me that you have left—
Left for good.
[Original title in Bengali is “Dujoner Bhat”]
Noor-E-Fatima Mosharraf Jahan takes great interest in literary translation. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in English Literature at North South University. Her translations have been published since 2015.
