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

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

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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