Preface

Parveen Shahnaz is writing poems for the last 20 years, and so far, she has published four books of poems. This list includes Touching the Seawater, The Desolate Cloud, Water Collected on Folded Palms and The Ironclad Family of Stars. The titles of her books are quite poetic, and they resonate rhythmic sound affirming Shahnaz is predominantly a poet by heart. Her creative works, I am sure, have already drawn attention of the circle of poets and poetry-lovers in the country. In the present bilingual book, she has presented selected poems both in Bangla and their translation in English. This will bring laurels for her from home and abroad. I have found most of Shahnaz’s poems are one page in length and not overloaded with theory or concepts. These are more emotional in tone and written from heart, not head. These features perfectly match with what Buddhadeb Basu had prescribed as ideal forms of poetry to the poets of his time. As I read, I find love is the central theme of Shahnaz’s poetry. The lines are spontaneous flow of emotion. This course is both dynamic and vibrant. I am sure the true readers of poetry will surely feel the touch of her writings and discover their inner beauty. I am confident that this book would find a good readership among the connoisseurs of poetry. I wish the writing career of Parveen Shahnaz fly from good to great!

Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq Former Professor, University of Dhaka

Introduction

I know Parveen Shahnaz from her engagement with a social organization with which I am also associated as its Chief Advisor. I used to know that she writes poetry and has published several books of poems. Occasionally she presented one or two of her books to me for reading. Her association with a socially committed organization is a manifestation of her collective awareness. As I browsed through the pages of her poetry books, I have found the same social commitment and awareness in her writings. The lines are simple and rhythmic. The words are so unrestrained that a reader won’t have to struggle with the dictionary to find their meanings. As a professor of mass communication and journalism, I used to teach subjects that deals with human lives, their struggle and thirst for freedom. Literature depicts all these aspects of human lives in subtle way. Poetry, we know, is the smost articulate form of literature where a poet uses metaphors, similes, images etc., to express deeper feelings and realizations. I have found these features in Shahnaz’s poetry. The canvas of Parveen Shahnaz contains many colours. Her subjects range from love for beloved to love for humanity, from nature to relationship, from rural settings to urban complexities. Many of her poems have inner cadence and splendor. I wish her more sucess!

AAMS Arefin Siddique Former Vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka