Tasneem Hossain - Biography and a poem
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TASNEEM HOSSAIN
Tasneem Hossain, majoring in English Language and Literature, is a multi-lingual poet from
Bangladesh. She writes poems in English, Urdu and Bengali. She is also a columnist, fiction and op-ed writer, educator, translator and trainer.
Her impactful writings appear frequently in esteemed publications worldwide like: Human Rights Art Movement, Wordsmith International Editorial, Southern Arizona Press, MockingOwl Roost, Setu, Pen magazine, Valiant Scribe, Prodigy Magazine (USA), Borderless Journal (Singapore), Discover Mississauga and More-eBook, (Canada), Dark Thirty Poetry Publishing, Krishnochura (UK), Polis Magazino, Homo Universal (Greece), Borderless Journal (Singapore) Worvid and Homagi International Magazines (Indonesia), INNSÆI Journal, Cultural Reverence, MicroPoetry Cosmos, The Fatehpur Resolution, Raft of Dreams, PuspoPravat (India), Sindh Courier (Pakistan), Orfeu.al (Kosovo), Alessandria Today (Italy), Atunis Galaxy Poetry (Belgium), Gazeta Destinacioni (Albania), Life (Abu Dhabi), Barcelona-Adabia (Spain), CTHOTEM Revista Cultural (Argentina), Raven Cage, Raseef 81(Germany), Antiquities and Classique (Algiria), Friendship of People N92024 EDAS Chronicle, The Dhaka Literature, An Ekushey Anthology, Pencraft International, Kavya Kishore, The Global Nation, bdnews24.com, The Daily Star, The Business Standard, Asian Age Online, Daily Observer (Bangladesh).
Her poems have been translated in ten languages; and published in literary journals worldwide. She has been interviewed on several literary platforms and won awards for her literary contributions to world literature.
Several of her articles and poems are utilised as teaching material in universities and academies across various countries; some have been referenced in university research papers.
She is an author of three poetry books: ‘Grass in Green’ - available in 30 countries, ’The Pearl Necklace,’ ‘Floating Feathers’ and a book of articles ‘Split and Splice’. Four more books are currently in progress.
As an op-ed writer, she has written more than 130 articles.
She runs an international poetry writing project and group, named Life in Lyrics. She wants to create bridges of communication for literary people around the world through this platform. She conducts workshops here to create readers and create interest for reading and writing for the younger generation. She is a member of World Writers’ Union and recognized as World’s Contemporary Writers 2024 in a couple of anthologies.
Poetry, to her, is music through words; an ever-flowing river reflecting all that surrounds us.
As an author, she tries to spread message of love, hope, mercy; and tries to create an awareness of social responsibilities and human rights.
She served as a faculty member of Business English at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology. Currently, she is the director of the prominent human resource development
organization, Continuing Education Centre (Bangladesh), and Cansaz Services and Distribution LLC (Canada). With 27 years of experience, she is a highly regarded Business English language and Communication Management trainer.
She actively participates in sports whenever the opportunity arises. During her university days she started to work for radio Bangladesh as a newscaster, commentary reader, interviewer and radio presenter and continued there for 10 years. She has also directed plays, including Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
THE PEARL NECKLACE
Bouncing and springing pearls all over the floor,
The phantom of a man, passed by; which was yours.
Thoughts kept leaping and jumping like the pearls,
Memories kept flashing in a wild whirl.
Putting on the necklace today was a curse,
String was so old that it tore and dispersed.
Ten years back, you gave me that necklace on a rainy day.
You wanted to know what I had to say,
I said ‘no’.
You left without saying a word,
Little did I know that you meant to me so much.
Three days, four days I waited for your call,
Looking at the box beside my mirror on the wall
Then I realized how much I really cared,
Searched for you, not a single place did I spare.
Waited and waited for you to be back,
Waiting and watching the pearls every day.
Night would come and the pearls would stare back as I lay,
Waiting to be worn and adorn my neck.
They stared and stared tearing me apart.
Shone at night, in the moonlight,
Your shining eyes staring at me from afar.
Mornings would come and the tinge of sunrays on the pearls;
Reminded me of the scars that I have on you, hurled.
Now the scars are like reflections on me incurred.
Sometimes I thought ‘should I throw away the pearls and forget?’
Once I hid them in a box in a cupboard lest I regret.
The next moment I rushed to rescue them from their tomb,
Brought those back again in my room.
How could I keep those from me, away?
I was in love with you from the very first day
Dawned on me, the day you went far away.
You never did call or send me a letter after that doomsday.
I tried hard to know where you had walked away
None could tell me where you have gone no matter how I prayed.
Did you marry and have children of your own?
Are you living in a shining palace or a beautiful home?
Wait! Someone’s at the door.
Oh! A box and a letter, the return address unknown.
Ah! A white pearl necklace and a note:
‘I send you this pearl and this time it’s white
Because my dear, today, I am dying;
I lived in a house, by your window side.
Waited for hours, just to see your face fair and bright.
I loved and loved you all this time.
I kept this box to give when it’s my farewell time.
White pearls to tell you my love is pure,
My soul and spirit is always yours.
Let me stay by your side,
I don’t want to say goodbye, the day I die.’
Tears brimmed over and streamed down my cheeks.
I slipped on my neck, the pearl necklace in front of the mirror.
They shone with a glimmer, your smile brighter.
I am now dressed for the occasion and wait for the conjuror,
Take me with you, my love’s conqueror.
