This poem was translated by Professor Carlo Coppola as part of the MULOSIGE Translations project. You can explore our collection of Urdu Poetry here.
Bezar nigāhen̲ / Fed-Up Glances
No one will sigh; then put her wet cheeks on my burning lips;
I won’t get angry at the silence of colourful lips; no one will be put out at my fearless speaking;
I won’t hear the sound of the beating of a fragile heart; no one will be startled by my suffocating sighs;
On hearing my footsteps, no one will come towards me with unsteady steps;
She won’t see my madness on display; no one will try to wrestle with her tangled hair;
Someone will pine for this somewhat prattling talk of mine from which innocent glances used to get their pride;
O unhappy heart! But what will be gained from your silence? No one’s understood your cry now; not one will understand now.
I’ve learned that this hand extended to me would not be pulled away from me;
I’d understood that now togetherness will remain until the Day of Judgement; I was happy that no one would leave me.
Why worry if no one worries about me; why should I be sad if no one will ask after me.
What concern should I have with those tears of people who won’t wipe any of my flowing tears.
O sorrow of the heart! If she’s self-respecting, let her be so; tell her that no one will love her in this fashion.
Unhappy heart! Again, you want to express fidelity; no one, but no one, will believe what you say!
O heart, I won’t ever go there by mistake . . . alas, no one will look with those special glances.
I’ll swear by the setting moon that I won’t ever go there . . . no one will understand my sleepless glances.
O night of sorrow! I won’t go there; I won’t . . . no one will play with a sobbing heart
O Jazbi, because my glances are avoiding her, my paths are becoming even darker.
1941
.
From: Firozān̲ (Resplendent Things). ʻAlīgaṛh: Anjuman Taraqqī-yi Urdū (Hind), 1960. pp. 93 – 95
No one will sigh; then put her wet cheeks on my burning lips;
I won’t get angry at the silence of colourful lips; no one will be put out at my fearless speaking;
I won’t hear the sound of the beating of a fragile heart; no one will be startled by my suffocating sighs;
On hearing my footsteps, no one will come towards me with unsteady steps;
She won’t see my madness on display; no one will try to wrestle with her tangled hair;
Someone will pine for this somewhat prattling talk of mine from which innocent glances used to get their pride;
O unhappy heart! But what will be gained from your silence? No one’s understood your cry now; not one will understand now.
I’ve learned that this hand extended to me would not be pulled away from me;
I’d understood that now togetherness will remain until the Day of Judgement; I was happy that no one would leave me.
Why worry if no one worries about me; why should I be sad if no one will ask after me.
What concern should I have with those tears of people who won’t wipe any of my flowing tears.
O sorrow of the heart! If she’s self-respecting, let her be so; tell her that no one will love her in this fashion.
Unhappy heart! Again, you want to express fidelity; no one, but no one, will believe what you say!
O heart, I won’t ever go there by mistake . . . alas, no one will look with those special glances.
I’ll swear by the setting moon that I won’t ever go there . . . no one will understand my sleepless glances.
O night of sorrow! I won’t go there; I won’t . . . no one will play with a sobbing heart
O Jazbi, because my glances are avoiding her, my paths are becoming even darker.
1941
.
From: Firozān̲ (Resplendent Things). ʻAlīgaṛh: Anjuman Taraqqī-yi Urdū (Hind), 1960. pp. 93 – 95
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