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

Agast 1952 / August 1952

The chances of spring have, indeed, brightened up somewhere;

A few garments have, indeed, been torn in the garden.

 Even now the autumn rues; but in places

The nooks and corners of the garden have, indeed, come to singing ghazals!

Night’s darkness is still fixed there,

But the colours of dawn have, indeed, started stirring a little.

Though our blood may have been burned by them or our life, our property,

A few lamps have, indeed, lit up in the assembly.

Yes, cock your hat, because throwing everything away, we

Have now, indeed, become free of the revolutions of Time.

The cage-dwellers will awake from sleep in the dawn of the garden.

We have, indeed, committed to promises and contracts with the morning breeze. 

The plain is still the same, but—O Faiz—with the blood on our feet

A few thorns have been watered.

            

  

.

From: Dast-i ṣabā (Hand of the Wind). Dihlī: Senṭral Buk Ḍipo, 1952. pp. 74 – 75

Agast 1952 is quoted in full in Urdu Poetry, 1935-1970

             

The chances of spring have, indeed, brightened up somewhere;

A few garments have, indeed, been torn in the garden.

 Even now the autumn rues; but in places

The nooks and corners of the garden have, indeed, come to singing ghazals!

Night’s darkness is still fixed there,

But the colours of dawn have, indeed, started stirring a little.

Though our blood may have been burned by them or our life, our property,

A few lamps have, indeed, lit up in the assembly.

Yes, cock your hat, because throwing everything away, we

Have now, indeed, become free of the revolutions of Time.

The cage-dwellers will awake from sleep in the dawn of the garden.

We have, indeed, committed to promises and contracts with the morning breeze. 

The plain is still the same, but—O Faiz—with the blood on our feet

A few thorns have been watered.

            

  

.

From: Dast-i ṣabā (Hand of the Wind). Dihlī: Senṭral Buk Ḍipo, 1952. pp. 74 – 75

Agast 1952 is quoted in full in Urdu Poetry, 1935-1970