I’ll finally have to go one day from your proud assembly!

Again, pain will trickle from my voice;

Again, fire will rise from the broken instrument.

I’ll finally have to go one day from your proud assembly.

.

The soles of beauty are still constrained by the application of henna;

Love is still bound by antiquated rules;

A false godhead still dominates reason and spirit;

I’ll finally have to go one day from your proud assembly.

.

Civilization cannot still row the boat of justice and honesty.

Life still cannot raise the voice of Truth;

Humanity dares not continue to come into conflict with wealth.

I’ll finally have to go one day from your proud assembly.

.

The universe is still a workshop of superstition; 

Deception is still reality, and reality a story; 

Life has still to be transformed into its true self.

I’ll finally have to go one day from your proud assembly.

.

Still waiting for me are the dark city streets, 

A beautiful flow of the storm, 

Possibly prison chains.

I’ll finally have to go one day from your proud assembly.

.

I have yet to look into the eyes of a starving man; 

I have yet to shed blood tears on withered faces; 

I have yet to embrace humanity trampled by tyrants.

I’ll finally have to go one day from your proud assembly.

.

I have yet to sing the songs of every enemy of the old rule,

Of every darkness-destroying troop,

Of those ready to sacrifice their lives for the country.

I’ll finally have to go one day from your proud assembly.

.

Any moment now I’ll raise again the banner of a new life,

Bet my life on the sign given by my honour.

I’ll go. I’ll go. I am going. I am going.

I’ll finally have to go one day from your proud assembly.

.

            1945

   

.

From:  Āhang (Melody; 1938). Dihlī: Āzād Kitāb Ghar. 1956. pp. 128-30