Bhatiali

Afloat I am, The blind horizon spreads to no end. O river of rivers, The queen river, Flow as you wish, Gather silt forever That on your shores Men may harrow, then sow The seeds of happiness And sorrow to grow. Afloat I am, The blind horizon spreads to no end. Hilsa leaps at the moon, How wondrously they blend! Hilsa leaps at the moon, How wondrously they blend! O river of rivers, The starry river, Your blinking waves drum Of Behula's shiver. I too am lost, The tattered merchant fool, My peacock barge rides Fate's whirlpool. Hilsa leaps at the moon, How wondrously they blend! When the whistling wind wakes All courage is pretend. When the whistling wind wakes All courage is pretend, O river of rivers, The wise river. Who would speak for us? If not you, may be never. Yet the mountains rise From the hearths' ash, You are silent, while The history is brash. When the whistling wind wakes All courage is pretend. Heaven's horn blares slender silver For whom to comprehend? Heaven's horn blares slender silver For whom to comprehend? O river of rivers, The hungry river, The consort of Ruin. An arrow in Falguni's quiver. The infinite wasteland beckons Hold onto heart's dream, One more sun above Anguish and scream. Heaven's horn blares slender silver For whom to comprehend? Afloat I am, The blind horizon spreads to no end. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Form: Bhatiali Date: 19 / 11 / 2016 Bhatiali is a form of folk music native to Bangladesh and Bengal. There is no place for Taal (a term used in Indian classical music for the rhythmic pattern) in pure bhatiali. Even rhyme is not that important. Generally, these songs are sung by the cattle herders on the fields or the fisherfolks living off a river. Among the several subjects of folk music in all of Bengal, that includes Deha-tatva (about the body) and Murshid-tatva (about the guru), Bhatiali deals with Prakriti-tatva (about nature). Probably the most renowned poet of this form is Jasimuddin. Some of Rabindranath Tagore's songs can also be categorised as typical bhatiali.