Poetry at Sangam
Poetry at Sangam showcases poetry in English and translations as well as essays on poetics and news of new releases.
Translated from original Urdu by Vinita Agrawal
A blemished dawn, a morning bruised by the night
this can’t be the daybreak we’d been waiting for.
This can’t be the dawn whose desire we cherished
and in whose search our friends marched, hoping to find it
someday.
The ultimate destination of stars lies in the desert of the skies.
These dreary waves of nights too must have their shores
somewhere.
Somewhere the sorrowed boat of the heart must dock.
When friends set out
on the mysterious highways of young fiery blood,
they were pulled back by countless hands.
Arms beckoned from the thresholds
of beauty’s restless seduction.
The beautiful arms kept calling
and even though their lissomeness was well within reach,
even though desire was buoyant
slight was the weariness,
the yearning to see the face of a new dawn
was more acute.
I’ve heard that the distinction
between darkness and light has been made.
Heard that destinations and footsteps have merged
that the definition of lovers’ adversities
has altered drastically.
Heard that resplendent nights of lovemaking
have been sanctioned for slaughter
and torments of separation rendered unlawful.
The passions of the mind, the fervour of glances,
the flames of the heart
are no longer remedies of separation for anyone anymore.
From where did the morning breeze blow, where did it go?
The lamps splayed along the path do not know yet.
Night’s heaviness has not eased yet.
The moment that will liberate the eyes and the heart
is not here yet
Keep walking…the destination has not arrived – yet
← Faiz Ahmed Faiz
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