In This Asharh, You Come

Tamanna Rahman (Monsoon’s Love Ballad)

On this monsoon morning, I carry a handful of kadam blossoms. I weave them into my hair as drizzling rain sings its rhythm. In my eyes, I paint the path of kajal’s shadow. With lines of alta beneath my feet, I draw crimson illusions.

I rise as the daughter of the earth, bare yet radiant. The birdsong over ripened fields stirs my trembling heart. Come to me, let me float with the southern breeze while I gather shapla. In the melody of Bhawal songs, lend grace to my soul.

Come in the honeyed moment of love. In the silence of unspoken words, we shape remembrance. Bathe me in the nectar of affection. In this harsh, shadowed world, build a sanctuary of love with me.

The fragrance of husked paddy inspires me to prepare patisapta pies. On the tin roof, raindrops compose a lullaby to soothe you to sleep. Holding your hand, I walk through the waters. In this Asharh, come as love to be welcomed.

Monsoon’s Love Ballad: A Poem of Surrender in Nature

Introduction

“On this monsoon morning, with a handful of kadam blossoms—” From the first line, the reader enters a synesthetic experience. The touch of flowers, the sound of rain, and the scent of alta merge into one living image. In Bengali poetry, rain and love often appear as metaphors for each other. In this Monsoon’s Love Ballad, the poet shifts the focus and places woman at the center of nature itself.

This Monsoon’s Love Ballad becomes more than words; it flows as a fountain of emotions where nature’s beauty intertwines with the deepest memories of the Bengali heart.

The Central Theme

The poet crafts a feminine figure through monsoon’s essential elements—drizzling rain, kadam blossoms, and alta-stained footprints. She declares herself the “daughter of the earth.” Her adornments and selfhood merge with soil, water, and wind.

Symbolism and Metaphors

• Kadam Blossoms: They symbolize monsoon. By weaving them into her hair, the poet unites herself with nature.
• Lines of Alta: They represent Bengali tradition. Yet, the phrase “crimson mistakes” hints at illusions or the intoxication of love.
• Shapla with the Southern Breeze: This symbolizes the beloved’s arrival, carrying the sweetness of nature.
• Fragrance of Husked Paddy: It embodies simplicity and freshness, forming the foundation of relationships.

Artistic Structure

• “Weave them into my hair”: Here the roughness of stems contrasts with the softness of petals.
• “Through the rhythm of drizzling rain”: The poet compares rainfall to onomatopoeic sound—its patter, rumble, and jingling tones stir the auditory cortex.
• “The path of kajal’s shadow”: This imagery creates a cinematic frame in black and white, stirring emotion and drama.

The Temporal Paradox of Love

“In the silence of unspoken words, we shape remembrance” combines three layers of time:

• Past: memory
• Present: silence
• Future: creation

The poet traps memory in the past, holds silence in the present, and walks toward creation in the future. She blends all three layers into one flow of self-discovery.

Cultural Anthropology

1. Echoes of Folklore

• “Patisapta pies”: These sweets symbolize communal harmony in rural Bengal. Women once prepared them during harvest festivals with freshly husked rice.
• “Lines of Alta”: Alta marks femininity and beauty. Like vermilion, it symbolizes marital strength. Brides in village weddings often received alta as part of their adornment.

2. The Metaphor of Seasons

Monsoon renews nature with vitality. Life in youth awakens with the same thrill of romance. Here, rain stands not only as water but as spiritual purification—like the descent of Goddess Ganga in mythology.

Dialogue with the Reader

Questions:

1. Does the female character control nature, or does nature control her?
2. By “crimson mistakes of alta,” does the poet hint at breaking social taboos?

Conclusion: The Beginning of an Endless Journey

“Come as love to be welcomed” leads us back to an eternal question: is love like a monsoon river flowing one way, or cyclical like the seasons? The poet of Asharh leaves the answer for the reader’s heart to tremble over.

In this invitation, the poet envisions love as cyclical and eternal. Like monsoon’s endless play of destruction and renewal, love also returns in new forms again and again.

Through this Monsoon’s Love Ballad, the writer blends the fragrance of kadam blossoms with the rhythm of rainfall to create an unforgettable tale of love.

📌Disclaimer

This analysis provides information and opinions only for educational and discussion purposes. It reflects the author’s personal research and interpretation. It should not replace professional medical, psychological, or legal advice. Copying or reproducing any part of this content without permission is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action.

“You Were Silent”

Anna Rahman

(On the Decay of Brokenness and Love)

Life could have been radiant, yet we built our home on the shore of destruction.
The swift river knows no affection; it only breaks — silently, without any questions.

From the very beginning of our acquaintance, there was a shadow — the initial fatigue that foreshadows future bleeding,

Where poison seeps into love from the start,
Its sweetness never returns; only decay remains.

Love is like a tree, whose roots grow strong with trust —
Your silence caused rot at the root,
Where my honor once was protected.

You were silent—
When arrows flew at me from familiar faces,

You were silent—

When my tears touched your silent chest.
Those who spread poison are free now, absent from our home,
Yet their shadows envelop us, and your silence houses them.
Yet, whatever still survives beneath this broken pillar,

Is not merely love — perhaps the Creator himself placed it,
This little warmth is all we have left as our sustenance.

Have you ever thought — if you had been outspoken, steadfast, standing for truth—
Would I have been this broken today?

Would there still be such an echo of emptiness on this relationship’s body?

Introduction: The Heartfelt Message of the Poem

Starting with the line “Life could have been radiant,” this poem poignantly explores the complexities of relationships through the lens of brokenness and the decay of love. It is not merely poetry but a deep psychological analysis touching every silent pain hidden within relationships.

Structure and Main Themes

Divided into five stanzas, the poem gradually reveals:

• The destructive effect of silence
• Hidden problems at the start of relationships
• The impact of toxic environments
• The struggle to survive
• Unspoken questions and regrets

Key Symbols and Metaphors

a. The River Metaphor:

“The swift river knows no affection” — Here, the river symbolizes society or the surrounding environment that ruthlessly causes breakage without empathy. Relationships in such a society face nothing but breakage and decay of love.

b. The Tree Metaphor:

“Love is like a tree” — Trust is the root of love, and the poet describes silence as causing root rot. Just as a tree dies if its roots decay, relationships crumble without trust as their foundation.

c. The Architectural Symbol:

“Broken pillar” — Represents the shattered relationship, beneath which some hope still faintly survives.

Four Ways Silence Harms Relationships

1. Criticism: Attacking the partner’s character indirectly.
“Love is like a tree, whose roots grow strong with trust— your silence caused rot at the root, where my honor was protected.”
The poet accuses the partner’s silence as a form of indirect criticism, avoiding defense or support.

2. Contempt: Showing disdain or disrespect toward the partner.
“Their shadows envelop us, and your silence houses them.”
The partner ignores the poet’s pain, allowing toxic forces to prevail. This passive contempt is often more damaging than direct mockery.

3. Defensiveness: Avoiding blame by shutting down communication.
“Whatever still survives beneath this broken pillar… Have you ever thought— if you had been outspoken?”
The silence may stem from a defensive urge to avoid conflict, but it damages the relationship deeply.

4. Stonewalling: Complete withdrawal from communication.
“The swift river knows no affection, it only breaks— silently, without questions.”
The river metaphor indicates total silence and refusal to engage, even when the poet’s tears try to break through.

Toxicity in Relationships

The phrase “poison seeps in from the start” signifies the toxic nature of the relationship that starts with conflict and inevitably leads to separation. Toxic relationships begin with pain and often end in emotional breakdown.

The Struggle to Survive

The closing lines — “This little warmth is all we have left as our sustenance” — symbolize the effort to keep the relationship alive, often out of habit or social pressure, rather than true love. Genuine love surviving such damage is rare.

Dialogue with the Reader

This poem challenges readers with profound questions:

1. Can silence ever be an expression of love?
2. How do you recognize when silence becomes harmful?
3. How can hope be sustained in a broken relationship?

A Reader’s Reflection

“Reading the line ‘You were silent’ reminded me of my ten-year marriage, where accusations from others were constantly laid on me, and my husband never defended me—he remained silent in all those moments. Now I realize that silence was the cause of our distance.”

Literary Context

On the Decay of Brokenness and Love This poem’s themes of brokenness and decay echo the melancholia and rhythm of Jibanananda Das’s poetry, especially reminiscent of:

• “Bonolota Sen” with its nature metaphors
• The continuous yet unresolved flow of time and memory

Conclusion: A Call to Break the Silence

The poem ends with an unspoken question — “Would there still be such an echo of emptiness if you had spoken out?” — urging readers to reflect deeply on their own relationships.

Message of Awareness:

1. Silence is never a solution.
2. Courage to speak even harsh truths is essential.
3. Communication is the foundation of every relationship.

“Distance is not the greatest enemy of love, nor pride—rather this silence slowly pushes everything towards death.”

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Note:

The interpretations and explanations in this blog post are entirely imaginative and literary in nature. The metaphors used are symbolic and not scientific facts. No part of this content may be copied, stored, or republished without the author’s permission.

They Want My Good, Not Me — Tamanna Rahman

(Rebel Poem)

They want my good, yet they do not want me.
My ways resemble a mirror of shattered glass.
Because of this, they claim it pierces their hearts and spills silent blood.
As a result, they call me unbearably strong.

I have no mercy and no softness; therefore, they see me as a heart of stone.
In the so-called civilized world, I stand without a voice.
Instead of working in the way they expect, I spark disputes and questions.
For this reason, they never become blindly in love with me.

They want my good, but they reject my existence.
In fact, they say no good ever comes from my hands.
They call me an ill-omened owl, and they believe my face itself is a sin to behold.
Consequently, wherever I go, curses follow me like shadows.

Rebel Poem: “Broken Glass Mirror — Society’s Twisted Truths”

Introduction

Every word of this poem carries the sound of rebellion.
It rises when society’s conditional love clashes with the independence of the self.
Because personality grows from social interest, the absence of it often leaves a person without identity.
However, this poem questions whether such social structures are in fact a hidden civil war.

Here, the poet openly calls herself stone-hearted and ill-omened.
She describes how her face alone is enough for society to declare her sinful.
Meanwhile, she becomes a voiceless outsider—someone who, instead of joining in conventional work, creates challenges to the system.
As a result, the love shown to her is not pure but shadowed by contradictions.

This poem also exposes the uncertainty and masked behaviors in the name of love.
Most people hide behind masks, and therefore it becomes difficult to know who truly wishes us well.

Poem Structure

The poem unfolds in three layers:

1. Crisis of Self-Identity:
   “They want my good, not me—my manners a mirror of broken glass.”
2. Cruel Judgment of Society:
   “Stone-hearted—voiceless in a civilized society.”
3. Rebellion and Curse:
   “Ill-omened owl—wherever I go, I carry only curses.”

Throughout these layers, the poet moves from one metaphor to another—
From a mirror, to stone, and finally to the image of an owl.

Deep Analysis

The line “It pierces their hearts” suggests that the poet’s truth acts as a thorn, causing pain to those who encounter it.
“Avoiding work, creating conflict” reflects an act of self-critique.
In fact, it hints at an emotional struggle against the superstitions and false values of society.

Cultural Narrative

• Ill-Omened Owl:
  In rural Bengali traditions, owls often symbolize bad luck.
  Yet in nature, owls are sharp hunters with exceptional hearing.
  Therefore, in this poem, the owl becomes a symbol of superstition and false judgment.

Cultural & Historical Context

• Bengali Rebel Poetry:
  Similar to Kazi Nazrul Islam’s “Bidrohi” (The Rebel), this poem also shows strength in being “broken.”
• Global Context:
  Comparable to Japan’s hikikomori and Norway’s friluftsliv, the poem reflects the desire to live without imposed boundaries.

Personal Experience Behind the Poem

I wrote this during a fierce stormy night in Asharh, 2019.
Outside, hail and rain drowned every other sound.
After spending hours alone, I joined a tea table with acquaintances.
During our conversation, one well-wisher suddenly asked,
“Why do you always want to be different from others?”

This question sparked the creation of these verses.
In the end, the poem unmasks the conditional nature of society’s so-called love.

Reader Reflection Questions

• Which social mold has pressured you the most?
• Have you ever been called an “ill-omened owl”?

A Reader’s Comment

After reading this poem, I remembered when I first got a tattoo and went to the office.
My boss frowned and asked, “Is this professional?”
I replied, “Judge my work, not my arm.”

Closing

By the end, the poem settles into despair mixed with self-definition.
The poet labels herself an “ill-omened owl” who carries curses wherever she goes.
However, the poem’s message is clear: perfection is never whole.
People’s happiness depends on financial freedom and the courage to be themselves.
Often, those labeled unlucky by society become the pioneers of the future.
Here, the “curse” becomes a kind of liberation—because a broken mirror reflects the truth,
While a perfect one shows only convenient illusions.

📌 Disclaimer:
All interpretations here reflect the author’s literary vision.
Reproduction without permission is prohibited.