The love birds of Pabna

If only I had stopped her from drinking!

She did say that the water tasted funny;

And it looked yellow, and smelt of metal...

Why didn't I stop her; why didn't we fly away...

Yes, it was hot and we were thirsty;

But I should not have let her drink!

The poison spitting vehicles, the sewage rivers

Black belching factories, the plastic killers

Chemical plants, the garment dyes

Coal power plants, and unidentified crimes...

We knew what fed that water;

And yet I let her drink!

Where will I fly to now? With whom?

I have known no love but Padma;

And now she is gone.