Επιμέλεια: Εύα Πετροπούλου Λιανού
Biography: Ri Hossain is a prominent and passionate voice in Bengali poetry, recognized as a rebellious and resilient figure in the literary landscape. His poetry reflects personal experiences, societal conflicts, and deep social injustices, making him a significant commentator on contemporary issues.
Ri Hossain is a poet of struggle, whose work awakens the human spirit and exposes societal inconsistencies, injustices, and disparities. His life exemplifies a commitment to society and a courageous stance against oppression. Through his poetry, themes of grief, protest, love, and deep social responsibility resonate powerfully, making him an essential voice in contemporary Bengali literature.
Selfhood
At our place of discourse,
A swan appeared.
Immediately, the doves, pigeons, and cuckoos fell silent.
Suddenly, dusk descended,
And the pleasant taste of the drink turned sour.
No one liked him,
For his long neck.
When the chairman, the giraffe, arrived,
It was almost midnight.
Everyone had waited without a bite.
The moment he came,
The fox’s greetings and songs of praise
Revived the gathering.
The monkeys danced,
The pigs sang.
In the front rows sat tigers, lions,
Elephants, pythons, sharks, and rhinos.
At our place of discourse,
Only the giraffe spoke.
The wolf didn’t come.
Wolves are not dogs;
They parted ways
From the canine kind long ago.
© R. Hossain
