This poem was translated by Professor Carlo Coppola as part of the MULOSIGE Translations project. You can explore our collection of Urdu Poetry here.
Ek shām / An Evening
The poison-vomiting light of the street lamps,
The stone-hearted, frightening shadows of the walls,
Giant strangers, steel idols,
Bloody, shrieking, roaring;
—My soul is being swallowed up. What shall I do?
.
On every side, the tremor of color and light;
On every side, the nets of strange arms;
On every side, banners sprinkling blood;
I, my honor, my begging hand,
—My life feels ashamed. What shall I do?
.
At every turn of Life’s workhouse
The spirit of Jenghis Khan with veil uplifted;
O dawn, hold high the sunbeam of the new world;
Wake, O dream of humanity’s future;
—Hope is drowning. What shall I do?
..
From: Talk̲h̲iyān̲ (Bitternesses). Dihlī: Panjābī Pustak Bhanḍār, 1963. pp. 123 – 124
The poison-vomiting light of the street lamps,
The stone-hearted, frightening shadows of the walls,
Giant strangers, steel idols,
Bloody, shrieking, roaring;
—My soul is being swallowed up. What shall I do?
.
On every side, the tremor of color and light;
On every side, the nets of strange arms;
On every side, banners sprinkling blood;
I, my honor, my begging hand,
—My life feels ashamed. What shall I do?
.
At every turn of Life’s workhouse
The spirit of Jenghis Khan with veil uplifted;
O dawn, hold high the sunbeam of the new world;
Wake, O dream of humanity’s future;
—Hope is drowning. What shall I do?
..
From: Talk̲h̲iyān̲ (Bitternesses). Dihlī: Panjābī Pustak Bhanḍār, 1963. pp. 123 – 124
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