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

Ek manzar / A Scene

The housetops broken down with the weight of silence

From the heavens flowing a stream of pain

The moon’s sorrowful tale of light

Rolling in street dust

Bedrooms half-lit

The melody of Life’s viol tired

Mourning in low tones. 

.

      With C. M. Naim

.

From: Naqsh-i faryādī (Image of the Supplicant). Dihlī: Urdū Ghar, 1941. p. 58

Ek manzar is quoted in full in Urdu Poetry, 1935-1970

             

The housetops broken down with the weight of silence

From the heavens flowing a stream of pain

The moon’s sorrowful tale of light

Rolling in street dust

Bedrooms half-lit

The melody of Life’s viol tired

Mourning in low tones. 

.

      With C. M. Naim

.

From: Naqsh-i faryādī (Image of the Supplicant). Dihlī: Urdū Ghar, 1941. p. 58

Ek manzar is quoted in full in Urdu Poetry, 1935-1970