This poem was translated by Professor Carlo Coppola as part of the MULOSIGE Translations project. You can explore our collection of Urdu Poetry here.

Professor Carlo Coppola, Oakland University

Sitāre / Stars

Leaving the moon-star paradise, the river of song

Is traveling in the openness of space, slowly, slowly

Toward the world’s dwelling of lamentation, slowly, slowly

Leaving the rose garden of song, it is coming!

Stars, with their sweet, intoxicated, gentle smiles,

Are making Nature young, slowly, slowly

Stars are telling her a story, slowly, slowly — 

The domain of life is intoxicated by their story;

Since the first day this has been the stars’ custom;

They are shining so the world might have the rule of joy.

They are shining so that Man might forget his life’s travails;

Every single bean of light carries the wish

That someday this world of dust will become a cradle of beauty, of elegance,

That someday Man will regain his paradise lost!

.

From: Māvarā (Beyond). Lāhaur: Maktabah-yi Urdū, [1940]. pp. 47 – 48

             

Leaving the moon-star paradise, the river of song

Is traveling in the openness of space, slowly, slowly

Toward the world’s dwelling of lamentation, slowly, slowly

Leaving the rose garden of song, it is coming!

Stars, with their sweet, intoxicated, gentle smiles,

Are making Nature young, slowly, slowly

Stars are telling her a story, slowly, slowly — 

The domain of life is intoxicated by their story;

Since the first day this has been the stars’ custom;

They are shining so the world might have the rule of joy.

They are shining so that Man might forget his life’s travails;

Every single bean of light carries the wish

That someday this world of dust will become a cradle of beauty, of elegance,

That someday Man will regain his paradise lost!

.

From: Māvarā (Beyond). Lāhaur: Maktabah-yi Urdū, [1940]. pp. 47 – 48