This poem was translated by Professor Carlo Coppola as part of the MULOSIGE Translations project. You can explore our collection of Urdu Poetry here.
Sāʼe / Shadows
There have been many such nights
When the memory of you does not come back to me;
A pain quivers in my heart but
A plaint does not come to my lips.
Every sin comes before me
Like a row of black rocks;
Neither is there any pretext for crushing
Nor any remedy of freedom or escape!
I’ve also passed such nights
When shadows
Hung over everywhere in your path!
Sometimes they came forth; sometimes they ran away.
It wasn’t you, but shadows like you,
Only shadows, dancing!
It wasn’t me, but shadows like me!
Only shadows, trembling.
Just shadows, shadows of your path.
I’ve also passed many such nights
When the memory of you does not come back to me!
.
From: Ātishkadah (Fireplace). No publication data; probably printed by the author. pp. 64 – 65
There have been many such nights
When the memory of you does not come back to me;
A pain quivers in my heart but
A plaint does not come to my lips.
Every sin comes before me
Like a row of black rocks;
Neither is there any pretext for crushing
Nor any remedy of freedom or escape!
I’ve also passed such nights
When shadows
Hung over everywhere in your path!
Sometimes they came forth; sometimes they ran away.
It wasn’t you, but shadows like you,
Only shadows, dancing!
It wasn’t me, but shadows like me!
Only shadows, trembling.
Just shadows, shadows of your path.
I’ve also passed many such nights
When the memory of you does not come back to me!
.
From: Ātishkadah (Fireplace). No publication data; probably printed by the author. pp. 64 – 65
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