My Dear Son Shehraj: A Father’s Poem for His Son
At a glance
- A father’s poem of love, written for his son Shehraj.
- Morning to night, work and prayer — everything revolves around the child.
- The father’s dream: a son who is humble, wise and a good human being.
An English rendering of the Bangla poem "প্রিয় শেহরাজ বাবা" that Sultan Muhammad Rashed wrote for his son on Sunday, 29 June 2025, at 8:50 pm (15 Asharh 1432 Bangla calendar, 3 Muharram 1447 Hijri). Kept here as a memory; the original Bangla is on the Bangla page.
The one for whom I stay well, morning, noon and dusk,
he is a piece of my heart — my son Shehraj.
The one for whom the lines on my tired brow fade away,
he is my golden child, my darling Shehraj.
The one for whom daylight decorates even the night,
he is my sweet boy — my Shehraj.
The one who rings like an alarm in my morning sleep,
he is my gifted son, my boy Shehraj.
The one through whom society will know me anew,
he is my golden boy — my son Shehraj.
The one with whom my mornings and my new work begin,
he is my precious son, my darling Shehraj.
The one I pray for when I stand in salah,
he is my innocent boy — my son Shehraj.
The one whose thought keeps my ears awake even in sleep,
he is my wonderful boy, my son Shehraj.
The one I come home for, however much work remains,
he is the one who waits for me — my son Shehraj.
Seeing dreams in his eyes, I paint colourful shades,
and keep his happiness safe in a heart full of prayers.
When he walks on tiny feet, the ground beneath trembles,
and forgetting all sorrow, I find my strength.
When he calls out “Baba”, my heart sways;
it is the finest tune of my life — my true treasure.
One day my boy will go to school, a bag on his back,
he will spread his arms and touch the sky, holding his father’s dream.
Rise like a new sun, my son,
and serve everyone, lighting them up with your light.
I don’t know what the future holds or how the days will be,
still I wish the smile on his face lasts forever.
He will teach humanity, truth and courage,
and with every step he will make history.
The name of love flows in my blood;
he is my Shehraj — full of spirit.
In his eyes I see my own childhood,
and in him I will live on for a long time.
He will read books and write on pages of dreams,
every day with him will reach a new dimension.
He will play in the field and run with all his heart —
my world, whom I will never forget.
When he cries, my heart breaks;
when I can make him smile, life feels right.
As a father, how proud I am of him,
I colour my life — a trader in care.
He will be a fine human being who thinks of others,
and never stands like a thorn in anyone’s eye.
Countless poems hide in his smile;
he is the piece of my heart, my life.
I want him to be humble, I want him to be wise,
so that everyone says — what a son to be proud of!
At each of his successes my eyes will fill with tears,
and my heart will burst with joy in a hundred songs.
This boy will become the light of a hundred hopes,
his footsteps will colour everything and make it shine.
Every father has a dream, and so do I:
I will raise him to be a true human being, whatever anyone says.
I am writing this for you; it will be published today —
keep the memory of your father and mother close, my dear Shehraj!
✍️ Sultan Muhammad Rashed
Sunday, 29 June 2025, 8:50 pm