Our Sumaiya: A Brother’s Poem for His Little Sister

An English rendering of the Bangla poem "আমাদের সুমাইয়া" ("My little sister") that Sultan Muhammad Rashed wrote for his younger sister. Kept here as a memory; the original Bangla is on the Bangla page.

Sumaiya is her name, the princess of our home,
three brothers stand as her guards, never leaving her alone.
We three brothers are her vanguard, a shield as strong as a wall;
if pain ever comes to touch her, it will crumble and fall.

Perhaps before Allah sent her into this world,
He made three brothers her guards, so she would be safe.
If any storm should come into her gentle life,
three brothers will stand as her shield, chests out, in that moment.

Sumaiya’s smile means Eid inside our home,
for her, all our struggles turn to colour.
Sumaiya is not just a sister, she is our home’s pride;
keeping her happy and smiling is our honour.

We are three brothers and one sister, she the youngest of all,
her little laugh fills the house like sunshine.
Sumaiya was a little bird held close to my chest;
I carried her around morning, afternoon and dusk.

If Rakib ever hit her, even just in play,
I would hit him back in anger for hitting my sister.
For that I got scolded by our parents so many times —
silly, you must understand how dearly I love my sister.

Those scoldings from Mother and Father still feel sweet today;
how far I went just to wipe my sister’s tears!
I still remember those days and nights of childhood —
carrying her, getting scolded, and the hand of love.

The sunny smile of my home, my little sister,
my heart fills up with her sweet words.
Her study table a mess, books scattered everywhere,
yet they say her heart reaches for the sky.

Time changes, people grow up, life changes colour,
yet in a brother’s heart a sister’s place is forever.
Let the world know: our sister is a treasured jewel,
her true home is inside the hearts of three brothers.

Then suddenly life seemed to change its path;
after marriage I moved far away, and home was left behind.
Long years in the crowd of busy city life,
only at midnight did memories of my sister gather.
In such a busy life and the city’s noise,
only at midnight did my eyes grow wet for my sister.

Growing up, Sumaiya changed slowly, little by little,
her closeness turned towards Rakib, as time will have it.
Now they laugh side by side and spend a lot of time together;
I only watch from afar, with an ache inside.

Rakib and I now live in the busy city,
my sister lives in the village home, wrapped in Mother’s love.
Still, without her knowing, I keep asking how she is;
the love in my heart is the same as before.

In Dhaka I run a business and earn well,
I give my sister whatever she needs, yet I don’t find that light.
I may give money, I give everything she needs,
yet that childhood bond is still the most precious of all.

Those childhood days of carrying her are a dream now;
I still remember, Sumaiya, you live deep in my heart.
Distance is only counted in miles, not in the heart;
for their sister, three brothers are still ready, together.

A little person with a big heart, full of love;
when she is here, the house looks like a dream.
The dearest, most colourful treasure of my life —
I pray my little sister stays happy forever. 💛

✍️ Sultan Muhammad Rashed