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 sīn / A Scene

Once at night

A house caught fire in the city.

There’s no remedy

For people’s attraction to color and noise.

I was out, so I thought

I’d stop and watch too.

The thirst of my eyes and ears would be sated a little.

No remedy

For people’s attraction to fire;

The rising flames, yellow and red,

A building crushed and fallen into the fire.

I saw an intoxication 

In the eyes glazed with this scene

.

On every lip, a sad word; 

In every glance, terror, madness.

Coming back, I thought no remedy 

For people’s attraction to noise and color,

To slaying and plunder,

To destruction and war.

.

From: Dard kā shahr (City of Suffering). Lāhaur: Naʼī maṭbūʻāt. 1965. p. 58

             

Once at night

A house caught fire in the city.

There’s no remedy

For people’s attraction to color and noise.

I was out, so I thought

I’d stop and watch too.

The thirst of my eyes and ears would be sated a little.

No remedy

For people’s attraction to fire;

The rising flames, yellow and red,

A building crushed and fallen into the fire.

I saw an intoxication 

In the eyes glazed with this scene

.

On every lip, a sad word; 

In every glance, terror, madness.

Coming back, I thought no remedy 

For people’s attraction to noise and color,

To slaying and plunder,

To destruction and war.

.

From: Dard kā shahr (City of Suffering). Lāhaur: Naʼī maṭbūʻāt. 1965. p. 58