August '52
Translated from the Urdu of Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz by Poorvi Vora
Also appeared in To Topos Poetry International, PACIFICA: PEACE & the SEA, Vol. 5, pg. 48, 2003.
Translator's note: This was written to mark the fifth anniversary of the independence of Pakistan from British rule.
The light of spring seems possible
for a few buds have begun to blossom,
and though dark autumn is still the ruler,
nature's music fills garden corners.
Night's inky darkness seems unchanging,
but the colors of dawn do slowly appear,
and though our life's blood has fuelled the flames,
a few lamps have lit this gathering.
Hold your heads high for having lost all,
we are now indifferent to the whims of fate -
the caged people will wake at this dawn,
which has grown from a hint to a promise.
Though this desert remains barren, Faiz,
the blood from your feet has flooded a few cactii.
The translator would like to thank Aruna Thakkar, S. Charusheela and Colin Danby for their suggestions
Copyright © 2003 Poorvi Vora