LIFE AS IT IS

I want to get up and smile The first thing in the morning. I try, but I can't. I want to wake up and jump off my bed, I try, but I can't. My legs feel heavy and mind benumbed. I want to tweak my resume, Re-write my cover letter And fill out those application forms online. I try, but I can't. I want to hang out with friends, But I can't. I eat when I am full But starve myself when I am supposed to eat. I cry, I cry for no reason at all. My eyes, my poor eyes, I want to stop sobbing at night. I try, but I can't. Some nights I sleep too much Other nights I am sleepless. I am irritable, I am restless. I am hopeless and totally helpless. But I don't give up. Giving up is out of the question 'cause I know the sun will rise soon Sooner than you all think. And my life will begin anew. By Wara Karim 

It’s the little things in life That make life worth living. We carry a stranger’s smile, Gesture of love, Drops of tears With us wherever we go. We remember the first snowfall in a new country, The first dance in the summer rain, Or the first rainbow in the western sky. We remember who gave us a good meal When days were bad, Who uttered words of hope When there was no hope, Who held our hand and said, “It’s okay, it’s okay.” We remember the people, Who made us laugh And made us feel That the world wasn’t a bad place at all. We remember the blind man We once met at a train station - His white cane was his scepter. He radiated hope, he emanated courage. Yes, it’s the little things and experiences That make life worth living, Ask us to stand tall And brave all the storms, And tell us that the sun is there, Right there... behind those gray clouds. You may not see it now, But it's there, there, right there. -W.K. 

A young lily, peace lily, White, green and graceful Looks out the bedroom window From an olive flower pot. She waves at a maple, Which replies by swaying her leaves. Then she nods at an old cherry tree, Which looks up and waves in return. For a minute, the lily feels tall and strong. She also feels closer to the vast sky - Her owner dwells in a high-rise. For a small houseplant that spends her life on a windowsill, This one-minute is very precious! ~W.K. 

Walking down the alleys of life, we wonder where we came from and where we are going. We look for a purpose in life, a purpose that will keep us from getting lost in this crazy world. While we may not always find a purpose, thinking about life itself often helps us realize that we are not here to stay forever, and therefore should make good use of whatever time we have left before sunset. ~W.K. 

He walks from here to there There to here... everywhere, In search of happiness, In quest for peace. He looks for happiness in comfort, Clothes, cars and games, Foods, shoes and holidays. However, happiness is a feeling Not to be found in material things. Well, sometimes, yes. But most of the time, no. Likewise, peace of mind Is a state of mind. We cannot catch it with li'l effort - It's like fireflies - elusive. Peace and joy come from bigger things, Simpler and purer things of life. Happiness can come from gazing At a star-studded sky, Helping an old lady lift her shopping bag, Listening to a songbird chirp Or watching a squirrel munch its acorns. -W.K. 

The thought of a hearty meal over steaming white rice, spicy-crunchy hilsa, and a peppery preparation of smelly but scrumptious dried fish makes most Bengalis salivate, especially on the first day of the Bengali calendar. Whether they are at home or 9,000 miles away from their roots, Bengalis' undying love for their food, culture and heritage keeps them spirited on any given day, and gives their children one more reason to be appreciative of their lineage.  The Daily Star link  March 28, 2017  Not just within the borders of Bangladesh, Pahela Baishakh celebration is a huge affair among Bangladeshi communities abroad, too. Events coordinated by Bangladeshi associations take place at homes, school premises and even stadiums! Organised by Bangabandhu Council Australia, Pahela Baishakh celebrations held at Australia's Sydney Olympic Park, for instance, draw tens of thousands of Bengalis from all over Australia every year. Bangladeshi immigrants gather in Sydn...