What has happened to the verdure, leaves, tulips, cypresses, and jasmine? 

The whole garden is sad. O, what has happened to the garden?

Everywhere there is silence, stupefying and dreadful. 

O guardians of the paradise of the country! What has become of it? 

Where did the pleasure dance go? What happened to the musicians?

Where are the coquetries, blandishments, artfulness? 

O you whose captivating voice was the plectrum of longing’s musical instrument,

What, O tell me, has happened to that idol with the bud-like mouth?

O where did reason go? What has madness wrought?

O what has happened to youth, which was accustomed to the gibbet and rope?

Tell me, where is the country’s greatness now? 

Tell me, what has happened to the countrymen’s honour? 

It is the same mountain and valley, the same plain and garden. 

O Majaz, what has happened, then, to the sentiment of patriotism?

                1950

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From: Yāden̲ (Remembrances), 1963. pp. 151 – 52

Vatan āshob  is quoted in full in Urdu Poetry, 1935-1970