This poem was translated by Professor Carlo Coppola as part of the MULOSIGE Translations project. You can explore our collection of Urdu Poetry here.
Vāsok̲h̲t: Sac hai hamīn̲ ko / Vasokht: True, it is we
True, it is we who were not justified to complain about you;
Surely, the cruelties of your honour were all friendly.
.
Yes, the tyranny which you inflicted was in order;
Yes, it is we who did not act according to the principle of Fidelity.
.
When you came, it was as if you had always been kind;
When you forgot, it was as though you never knew us.
.
Why did we seek justice from our sorrow—it was wrong.
Weren’t there others like us in the world killed by sorrow?
.
We were wrong if we cared for the wound;
For, why weren’t we lost in praising the goodness of the sword of Gracefulness?
.
Every doctor has avoided treating us;
Otherwise, the afflictions we had were not incurable.
.
On our lips, the bitterness of the wine of Time;
Otherwise, Faiz, we weren’t all inclined to bitter talk.
.
Montgomery Jail ∙ 24 November 1953
.
From: Zindān̲ nāmah (Prison Narrative). Dihlī: Kabīr Buk Ḍipo. 1955. pp. 100 – 101
True, it is we who were not justified to complain about you;
Surely, the cruelties of your honour were all friendly.
.
Yes, the tyranny which you inflicted was in order;
Yes, it is we who did not act according to the principle of Fidelity.
.
When you came, it was as if you had always been kind;
When you forgot, it was as though you never knew us.
.
Why did we seek justice from our sorrow—it was wrong.
Weren’t there others like us in the world killed by sorrow?
.
We were wrong if we cared for the wound;
For, why weren’t we lost in praising the goodness of the sword of Gracefulness?
.
Every doctor has avoided treating us;
Otherwise, the afflictions we had were not incurable.
.
On our lips, the bitterness of the wine of Time;
Otherwise, Faiz, we weren’t all inclined to bitter talk.
.
Montgomery Jail ∙ 24 November 1953
.
From: Zindān̲ nāmah (Prison Narrative). Dihlī: Kabīr Buk Ḍipo. 1955. pp. 100 – 101
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