Nature's Response

In "Nature's Response," poet Hossain Belal delivers a poignant meditation on the consequences of human ambition, ideological manipulation, and environmental neglect. The poem challenges sectarian and

As far as we know,
Nothing happens in this world without reason.
No matter how many sectarian ideologies exist,
No matter how much they lure us with heaven,
or frighten us with hell�"

No matter how much we speak of the sky, the land, the sea,
The state is not their owner.
The true owners of these are the people,
Children of nature by birthright.

Wars from state to state,
Killing to seize land,
Seizing markets,
Seizing minds�"

And much more!
An attempt to subjugate nature,
A craving to grow more powerful.

As far as we can tell,
Nature too has its own rhythm�"
And when that path is blocked,
It takes its own revenge.

Let there be as many ideologies of sectarian power as there may be,
If humans reject them, the damage is little.
But if humans reject the power of nature,
The damage will be immeasurable.

To abandon a heaven like Earth�"
What heaven could be worth that greed?