This poem was translated by Professor Carlo Coppola as part of the MULOSIGE Translations project. You can explore our collection of Urdu Poetry here.

Professor Carlo Coppola, Oakland University

Marne kī duʻāʼen̲ kyūn̲ / Why should I pray for death

Why should. I pray for death; who wants to live!

Whether it be in this world or the next, why should I now wish for a world?

.

When the boat was safe and sound, who wanted to be on shore?

How who wishes for the shore on this broken boat?

.

My tears extinguished that burning fire you had started.

Who now can extinguish that fire the tears have started?

.

O Jazbi, the world abandoned us; shy shouldn’t we abandon the world?

We now fully understand the world; now why should I cry out for the world?

.
      1933

.

From:  Firozān̲ (Resplendent Things). ʻAlīgaṛh: Anjuman Taraqqī-yi Urdū (Hind), 1960. p. 48 

             

Why should. I pray for death; who wants to live!

Whether it be in this world or the next, why should I now wish for a world?

.

When the boat was safe and sound, who wanted to be on shore?

How who wishes for the shore on this broken boat?

.

My tears extinguished that burning fire you had started.

Who now can extinguish that fire the tears have started?

.

O Jazbi, the world abandoned us; shy shouldn’t we abandon the world?

We now fully understand the world; now why should I cry out for the world?

.
      1933

.

From:  Firozān̲ (Resplendent Things). ʻAlīgaṛh: Anjuman Taraqqī-yi Urdū (Hind), 1960. p. 48