About me

A mother, wife and civil servant, a conscientious citizen and patriot ----- my abiding love for books has made me try my hand at writing poetry, none of which is anything but the strictly spontaneous outpouring of a mind that prizes truth and harmony, above all else.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

In a war cemetery

sard silon par
zard silon par
taza garm lahu ki soorat
guldaston ke cheetein hain
kitbe sab benaam hain lekin
har ik phool pe naam likha hai
ghafil sone waale ka
yaad mein rone wale ka

apne farz se farigh ho kar
apne lahu ki taane chaadar
saare bete khwaab mein hain
apne ghamon ka haar piro kar
ammaan akeli jag rahi hain

(Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Az Sham e Sheher e Yaaran)

On cold slabs
on pale slabs
as if they were
warm, freshly shed blood
lie bouquets splattered.
Obscure are the epitaphs
but every bloom bears the name
of he who, unaware, sleeps
of those who, in remembrance, weep.

having redeemed their pledges
in their own blood enshrouded
the sons lie and dream.
threading their sorrows into wreaths
the mothers alone remain without sleep.

(Translation ---Priya VKS)

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