In the love of the flowers of your lips, we

Were sacrificed on the dry branch of the gibbet;

In the desire of the torches of your arms, we

Were killed in half-lit streets.

.

Far from our lips on the gibbet

The redness of your lips was flashing.

Your scented hair billowing

And the silver of your hands gleaming.

.

When the evening of torture fell upon your path,

We followed as best we could;

On our lips were sweet words; a torch of sorrow in our heart.

.

Our sorrow was witness to your beauty.

Look! We remained steadfast to our word,

We who were killed in half-lit streets.

.

We were fated to fail,

Yet we willed our love.

Who complains if the affairs of love end in separation?

More caravans of lovers will pick up banners and set out again.

.

Our steps have shortened the pain

Scattered on their path of desire.

We have, by giving our lives for them,

.

Made known to all the secret of your love,

We who were killed on half-lit streets.

.

                    Montgomery Jail ∙  15 May 1951

.

                      With C. M. Naim

.

From: Yāden̲ (Remembrances), 1963. pp. 113 – 6

Ham jo tārīk rāhon̲ men̲ māre gaʼe is quoted in full in Urdu Poetry, 1935-1970