When Will My Son Return?

"When Will My Son Return" Written by / Journalist Taslima Khandaker Nushrat. When will my son return, Carrying this question in my chest, nights go, days go by. In the morning I stare towards the gate, In the evening I return again empty-handed and alone. People say, he will come, wait, I say, even waiting must have an end. In the corner of the room lies my son's shirt, I smell it, hold it to my chest, he is my dearest treasure. I set a plate of rice, in case he comes today, If he doesn't come, again the plate floats in tears. When will my son return, tell me O sky? How many letters I have written to him, but the wind did not carry them. When will the jail lock break, when will the chains break? When will the jewel of my heart return home? Allah, bring him back, I ask of You, Without my son this house is not a house, only ashes. When will my son return, when will he return home, How many more days will I cry in this darkness?