‘Sleepless in Dhaka’

“I decided that it was not wisdom that enabled poets to write their poetry, but a kind of instinct or inspiration, such as you find in seers and prophets who deliver all their sublime messages without knowing in the least what they mean.”

—Socrates

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IN the course of his journey to ambassadorship, Ilonggo poet and respected lawyer-writer Leo Tito Ausan Jr. have come across countless quotes, “but only one has so leechlikely stuck in my mind,” wrote Ambassador Ausan Jr.

“It is that which is popularly attributed to the Cuban Poet and Freedom fighter, Jose Marti, that ‘if a man would like to leave a mark in this world, he needs to do at least three things: 1. plant a tree; 2. have a son; and 3. write a book’, hence today (March 25), I, celebrate and profusely thank the Lord God, our Creator, for blessing me with a good life that enabled me to realize these three during my lifetime.” While in college in 1992, Ausan Jr. disclosed “He enabled me to plant giant ipil-ipil trees in Guimaras island at the farm of erstwhile Hon. City Judge Leonardo Lozano; in 1987, He blessed my marriage to Agnes Brazas-to whom I dedicate the book, with a son, Carlyle Leo, Latte ChoCo, Clark's Dad and today, in the year 2024 a publishing press in Bangladesh delivered to me the first 100 copies of my first book, entitled ‘Sleepless in Dhaka & Other Poems’ a compilation of my poetry written in and inspired by Bangladesh.” 

 

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In Ausan Jr.’s “humble gift to salute and honor Bangladesh and her lovely people, who are marking National Genocide Day and will be marking their 54th Independence Day tomorrow (March 26)!! Joi Bangla!!, In mid-April I shall, of course, be formally launching this book in an event, bigger than this post, for the purpose.”

Ausan Jr. wrote: “Meanwhile, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my most esteemed Bangla dual foreword writers, Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary), Masud bin Momen and Consul General in New York, USA, Najmul Huda,, for sharing their kind and inspirational insights on the book....THANK YOU DEAR LORD, FOR A LIFE THAT LEAVES AN INDELIBLE MARK...., may YOU keep on being kind to me as I continue to plod on, in the service of  my Motherland and our People, in this part of the world, this I pray, through Christ our Lord Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit as a triune Divine, Amen.”

 

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1. SLEEPLESS IN DHAKA

IO, Dhaka, cradle of, Ahsan Manzil,

What’s this in me, that for thee, I feel?

Just when I thought, as a stoic diplomat, I can’t fall into this, and never will...

II

O. Dhaka, this all started on 21st March, a year ago, if thee will,

After I presented my letters of credence, at the Bangabhaban, to His Excellency, President Mhd. Abdul Hamid,

When in gracious accord, with Protocol’s courtesy to No. 32 Danmhondi, a brief visit I unexpectedly made.

III

O, Dhaka, on foot, I apprised myself with every nook and cranny of the Crime Scene, at the historic place,

Including the Sadat gifted, Holy Quran, that quietly perched on a book stand at Mujib’s Study, and the bullet hole-ridden staircase,

Where, Sheikh Mujib, the Father of thy Nation, fell and was brutally murdered years ago, so that his killers’ Master, or so he thought, can be at peace.

IV

O, Dhaka, since, then, I never again became, the same old me, And perhaps, I again, never, will ever be...

For from then on, poetry, gushed from me, profusely,

Slumber in the night, I can ‘t anymore do, as easily.

VUntil on my tablet, I’ve written down, the poem that during the day, has in one fell swoop struck me...

Your gruesome history has shocked and amazed me,

Thenceforth, struggling hard, I’ve been, sleepless for thee,

VI

It can only be, that I’m already in love with thee..!!!

Just to get my much needed sleep, simply can’t be.

O, Dhaka, because from the sky of thy forehead, you’ve transplanted on a fluttering green flag,

Your blazing sun and blood red teep...

While your nose pin, you’ve dispatched to glitter like stars in thy nightsky,

That’s cold, dark, and deep...

But each and every morning, thy beauty, and historic splendor,

Through thy saree, and warm embroidered dupatta, peep!

While THROUGHOUT, the night before, Sleepless in Dhaka, the aging me, they keep!

(Inspiration: the impending possibility of publication of this Compilation, from 1:45 am of 03 February 2024 to 2:45 of 07 February 2024, My Baridhara Residence.)