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

Pābandī / Bondage

My master has a grievance: Why should my truthfulness 

Open secrets?

And, I ask: Why does your politics mix poison in art?

I will never become that pearl which is, day and night, 

Raked up by the winds of the shore.

It also happens that the bird stands up against the storm;

If a drop spills on a blazing flame, even that drop will speaks.

.

April 1954

From: Dasht-i vafā (Desert of Fidelity), 2012. p. 44

My master has a grievance: Why should my truthfulness 

Open secrets?

And, I ask: Why does your politics mix poison in art?

I will never become that pearl which is, day and night, 

Raked up by the winds of the shore.

It also happens that the bird stands up against the storm;

If a drop spills on a blazing flame, even that drop will speaks.

.

April 1954

From: Dasht-i vafā (Desert of Fidelity), 2012. p. 44