Speak up! O you Earth, speak up!

The kingly throne is shaking;

Clouds, lightning, darkness, night!

All people stricken with sorrow,

Old and young suffer alike;

Suffering men, suffering women;

Pillage everywhere,

Everyone’s a baniya, a businessman.

Speak up, O you Earth, speak up!

The kingly throne is shaking.

.

The world’s guardians are in the Black Age,

Those with silver and gold,

Whether native or foreign,

Blue, yellow, white or black,

Flies, gnats buzzing,

Seek the webs of the spider.

Speak up, O you Earth, speak up!

The kingly throne is shaking.

Whether European or Asian,

He strikes with a spear as soon as you’re off guard;

How long will this peoples’ restlessness last?

How long this disgust of the masses?

How long the wealthy carrying on their own business?

How long this Capitalism?

Speak up, O you Earth, speak up!

The kingly throne is shaking.

 We are not well-known and famous,

 But are we not workers?

Should we workers be deceived?

We’re not so helpless;

There’s a destination beneath our feet;

We’re not far from our destination.

Speak up, O you Earth, speak up!

The kingly throne is shaking.

.

Speak up, for we have served you!

Speak up, for we have done your errands!

Speak up, for we have eaten your fruits!

Speak up, for we have drunk your milk!

.

Speak up, for we have raised havoc!

Speak up, for the world has awakened through us!

Speak up, for the earth has awakened through us!

Speak up, O you Earth, speak up!

The kingly throne is shaking!

 

  1945

 

 

                

.

From: Āhang (Melody; 1938). Dihlī: Āzād Kitāb Ghar. 1956. pp. 139 – 40  

Bol! ari o dhartī bol! is quoted in full in Urdu Poetry, 1935-1970