চ্যাটারটন মারা গেছেন, চ্যাটারটন আবার মারা যাবেন

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দি ডেথ অফ চ্যাটারটন, ১৮৫৬, হেনরি ওয়ালিস 


সারাদিন ধরে আমার ঘরের দেওয়াল, জানলার পাল্লা, 
পায়া-ভাঙা চেয়ার, স্তূপাকৃতি ধুলো-ঢাকা প্রাচীন আসবাব-
সব কিছু দেখি আমি। 

সত্যি, আমাদের সব কিছু পুরোনো, ধুলোপড়া, ভাঙাচোরা। 
তবু একটা ক্লান্ত, মলিন লাবণ্য যেন রয়েছে কোথাও। 
ঠাম্মার আদরের মত,
লেপ্টে রয়েছে সবকিছুর গায়ে।  

একদিন এই ঘরে বাবা-মা থাকত। 

এখন এই ঘরে আমি থাকি। 

আমি চলে যাবার পর হয়ত অন্য কেউ থাকবে। 

তার চোখে এই লাবণ্য দেখা দেবে কী? মলিন হয়েও দেখা দেবে কী? 

অবশ্য, না দিলেই বা কী আসে যায়! 

চ্যাটারটন মারা গেছেন, চ্যাটারটন আবার মারা যাবেন।  


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