This poem was translated by Professor Carlo Coppola as part of the MULOSIGE Translations project. You can explore our collection of Urdu Poetry here.
Nivālah / Morsel
Mother works in the silk factory, father in the cotton mill;
The child has remained in the slums’ dark heart
Since coming out of his mother’s womb.
When he leaves here
He will be used in the factory.
For the sake of his helpless stomach
He will increase the hunger of Capital
His hands will throw out gold flowers
His body will scatter silver wealth
The bank windows will light up
His blood used to illumine their lamps
This tiny innocent
Is a morsel for bloodthirsty capital.
His silence keeps asking me: “Is there someone to save me?”
.
From: Ek k̲h̲vāb aur (One More Dream), 1965. pp. 106-107
Mother works in the silk factory, father in the cotton mill;
The child has remained in the slums’ dark heart
Since coming out of his mother’s womb.
When he leaves here
He will be used in the factory.
For the sake of his helpless stomach
He will increase the hunger of Capital
His hands will throw out gold flowers
His body will scatter silver wealth
The bank windows will light up
His blood used to illumine their lamps
This tiny innocent
Is a morsel for bloodthirsty capital.
His silence keeps asking me: “Is there someone to save me?”
.
From: Ek k̲h̲vāb aur (One More Dream), 1965. pp. 106-107
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