Parveen Shakir Translated
By Dr. Riz Rahim
Chicago, IL
1. In some way, we are all Dr. Faustus [Hum soub ek therha say Dr, Faustus hain]
In some way, we are all Dr. Faustus,
some in fascination,
others, blackmailed into
selling their soul.
Some pawn their eyes,
and begin trading their dreams,
others feel obliged to
sell their mind.
All we want to know is
the currency of the time.
Life’s ‘Wall Street’ tells us that
among those with power to buy
what’s most popular these days
is their own respect.
[Translated from Urdu by Riz Rahim]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Urdu original: Parveen Shakir)
Hum soub ek therha say
Dr. Faustus hain.
Koi upnay shawq kay kha-thir
Aur koi upni mujboori say black-mail ho ker
Upni roh ka sauda ker laytha hai
Koi sirf aankhain rahen rukh-wa ker
Khaw-bawn ki thijaruth shoroo ker daytha hai
Kisi ko saara zahen he girohi rukh-wana pertha hai
Bus daykh-na yeh hai
Kay sikh-kahai raa-ej ul-waqth kiya hai
So zindagi ki Wall Street ka ek jaa-eza yeh keh-tha hai
Kay aaj-kul khoo-wuth-e- kha-reed rukh-nay waal-awn main
Izzath-e-nufs bahuth maq-bool hai !
Parveen Shakir (original Urdu)
2. Slowly, from place to place [kuu-ba-kuu phail ga_ii; Parveen Shakir],
Slowly, from place to place
spreads the rumor of our love;
he made me known
the way fragrance spreads.
How can I say he left me,
which, though true,
is still a matter of
chagrin to me.
No matter where he goes,
he always comes back to me,
and this is the best thing
about my wayward lover.
May he always be happy, vibrant
like his heart,
and may he never suffer
a calamitous night of separation.
When he put his consoling hand
on my feverish forehead,
my very soul felt
a Messianic relief.
[Translated from Urdu by Riz Rahim]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
kuu-ba-kuu phail ga_ii
baat shanaasaa_ii kii
us ne Khushbuu kii tarah
merii paziiraa_ii kii
kaise kah duu.N ki
mujhe chhor diyaa hai us ne
baat to sach hai
magar baat hai rusvaa_ii kii
vo kahii.n bhii gayaa, lauTa
to mere paas aayaa
bas yahii baat hai achchhii
mere harajaa_ii ki
tere dil kii tarah aabaad rahe
tujh pe guzare na qayaamat
shab-e-tanhaa_ii kii
us ne jalatii hu_ii peshaanii pe
jo haath rakhaa
ruuh tak aa ga_ii
taasiir masiihaa_ii kii
[Urdu original; Parveen Shakir]
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