Label

A little baby is born,

And there's no time to waste.

She can cry if she wants to,

But she can't afford to rest.


Don't let go of any label,

Any stamp to put on her face-

Stamps of religion, class, and caste,

Of country and race.


She'll carry all the tags

Till the day she's dead.

Don't leave her any choice,

And there's no need to be afraid.


The world is a big cellar, and each one of us -

A bottle of wine.

Be proud of your labels -

For they taste divine.

Jonaki

chele-bela, chele-khela, bondhur preeti,

shohorer hakdak, haranor sriti,

jhoro haoa, bhije kak - chirodin beche thak -

pakhi-der bari fera - hashi-mukh kore,

beche thak shopnera - ghumer bhetore.



ami khali hete choli hati hati pai,

kichu asha, bhalo-basha dana jhaptai.

ekfali prithibi-te - kate din nibhrite,

ar beche thaki.

jekhanei thako dure - tumi theko roddure -

amar raater jonaki.

Kobita

kham-kheyali kath-berali,

paliye berai raat.

ghum hoyeche griho-tyagi,

nishuti tollat.

tik-tiki-der tik tik tik

shobdo korar bhishon batik,

ektu-khani shanti khoje

prochondo jhonjhat.



shopno-gulor mathar byamo -

edik-odik chai,

badhon-hara, karon-chara,

hajar ashongkai.

shun-shan shob shohor-toli,

shongo-pone shamle choli;

tobuo chena mukher michil

rasta atkai.