When a poet combines words, emotions and thoughts into rhythmic verses and melancholy stanzas, it is never a collection of random musings. Like the river that flows endlessly, words keep flowing endlessly; and every onlooker gets a taste from the luxurious spread.
Poet Sumsun Naher has only published one collection of poems so far, but the way she takes control of the readerÕs emotions is something exemplary. The way her verses flow, it can most accurately be compared with storytelling. The reader forms a kind of expectation about the final outcome of a particular poem, only to be totally baffled by the way they end—and they go back to read, re-read and every new reading brings out a different meaning.
I love the solitude.
But only when I need an excuse
to go near the river.
Before losing myself in the loneliest of forests
Why do I desire to become a river incarnate?
The desire to stay aloof touches the soul; anyone burdened with the numerous responsibilities of the world (well, who isnÕt burdened that way?)—but here, the poet gives us the added twist of Òonly when I need an excuse to go near the riverÓ. Well, shouldnÕt it be the other way? Someone would go near the river when they seek solitude; they should not start loving solitude simply because they love to go near the river. It is as if ÒriverÓ is a miraculous and lifesaving drug, and even an unusual and rare condition like ÒsolitudeÓ can be sought in order to avail it.
Many of the poems included in this collection contains these little puzzles, riddles, puns, oxymorons and other, witty references. It takes a lot more than a connoisseur of poetry to grasp SumsunÕs writings.
Hope you all will enjoy the journey, as much as it has been for the translator; if not more.
Ishtiaque Khan
