Confused

Published in Daily Star, Bangladesh

 

I am mixed up — cannot help

English and Bengali under my belt

I can read a bit of Hindi 

Cannot understand much of French

A little Chinese … low class, they said…

I am mixed up — cannot help

English and Bengali under my belt

I grew up thinking I will find a way

But now pidgin is all that I can say

I write in English — the language borrowed from the West

The language that taught us or brought us unrest

The language that through The Raj spread

Importing Nationalism in its tread

I am mixed up — cannot help

English and Bengali under my belt

But my life is that of the non-English, 

A probashi Bengali at best.

People say I am not typical, not quite the right type

 

 

 

Read the rest in Daily Star Bangladesh by clicking here.