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| Mahi Farhana |
Camphor-Scented Love
By: Mahi Farhana
Translated By: Ri Hossain
On every shelf of my mind’s cabinet,
scented with camphor,
I have tucked you away,
in the depth of my care.
There are a few secret chambers—
Where the world’s maps can never reach,
There lies the treasure trove of my love.
Wrapped in silk paper inside,
Are unsaid confessions,
Some stolen glances, the warmth of a touch,
And all around your name,
The glow of countless fireflies.
Painted in the hues of many words,
Designs of longing etched upon its tray.
Within the folds of letters, the dried
Jasmine garland still casts its scent—
As if love never grows old,
But only deepens, sinking further
Into the heart’s hidden core.
You do not know,
The secret language of all my prayers
Begins only with your name.
Behind the veil of all my silences,
It is your footsteps that echo.
On the last shelf of my mind’s cabinet,
a lamp burns eternal—
There, it is neither memory nor waiting,
Only love sits there for you,
In the very way you are.
Mahi Farhana is an acclaimed Bangladeshi poet, seasoned elocutionist, and versatile artist whose creative footprint spans literature, interior design, and photography. The daughter of a military officer and a renowned radio broadcaster, her nomadic childhood across Bangladesh exposed her to a rich tapestry of cultures, deeply shaping her multifaceted artistic worldview.
Farhana formally debuted in the literary world with her 2020 poetry collection, Amar Ekla Shomoy (My Solitary Time). Her versatility shines through her subsequent works, including the children's book Bangladesh Ekti Golpo (2021), the short-story collection Alokuthi (2022), and her highly celebrated 2024 poetry volumes, Duronto Ek Gangchil (A Restless Seagull) and Rokkhto Julai (Bloody July).
Her poetic philosophy seamlessly bridges the delicate, sensory nuances of romanticism with a fierce socio-political consciousness. Whether exploring the sacred privacy of memory or resisting systemic injustice, her work views adversity as a crucible for spiritual transformation.
A dedicated elocutionist with nearly three decades of experience, Farhana is the founder and director of the cultural organization "Chilekothay Chirkut" (Notes from the Attic), where she works to modernize the art of spoken-word poetry for the younger generation. Holding a B.Ed. alongside professional diplomas in photography from Alliance Française de Dhaka and interior design, she currently resides in Dhaka, dedicated to using art as a catalyst for human empathy and social awakening.
