POETRY
A Woman, I’m!
— And 2 Other POEMS by Arifa Shahzad
(Translated from Urdu by Kamran Awan)
A Woman, I’m!
I want your eye
I want your eyes
to see the colours of exuberance
oozing out of the womb of the soil.
And I want your sense of hearing
to listen to the pitter-patter
of the Spring raindrops.
And I want your lips
to absorb caress
of apricity of the Sun.
And I want your hands
to scribble down the legend of the daze
on mitt of the waft.
And I want
all of your love
to love you!
::::
The Earth Knows Not!
I mummified face of the death
and put it into the coffin of smile.
All counted the bonds leading to death,
but the unseen loops intertwined
with the cord of my breaths.
To count them all
I skilled in singing a swan’s song.
I’ll stay in the meadows
for seven days
and then I’ll absorb into your light,
like a gleaming ray,
piercing the Earth!
::::
The Departed Dears
When windows of the heart stretch out
the panoramas flicker.
On top of the bartizans of the home
the clay lamps lit up.
In the vestibules
rattles their footfall.
In the mirrors of the walls
glint their reflections.
In the muggy season’s torrent
we drench, and drift in the wind.
The yellow fall
starts exuding fragrance.
A part of their souls abode in us
that keeps us bloom!
….
(Translated from Urdu by Kamran Awan)
::::
Translations of POEMS with arresting imagery, polished language, emotional impact, and lyricism without pretension. The work of the POETS who received high accolade for their superb and stupefying POETIC WORK.
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Arifa Shahzad
Born on June 15, 1974, in Layyah,
with ancestral ties to Jhang, Arifa Shahzad has been currently residing
in Lahore and working as Associate Professor, Department of Urdu Language and
Literature, Oriental College, Punjab University, Lahore for the past
twenty-eight years, Arifa’s literary journey unfolded through the art of
crafting stories for children, a passion that laid the foundation for her
poetic exploration at the age of 15.
Arifa Shahzad’s literary repertoire includes nine books: one collection of Urdu poetry
“Aurat Hoon Na” (A Woman, I’m!) 2016; two volumes of Punjabi poetry “Chali
Chithiyan” (Forty Letters) and “Aakhia Nein Si” (I Had Told You
Already); one novel “Mein Timsaal Hoon” (I’m An Effigy); five books on
research and criticism: “Jadeed Urdu Shairi Mein Kirda’ri Nazmein” (Character
Poems in Modern Urdu Poetry), Angrezi Mein Urdu Adab Ki Tanqeed (Criticism
of Urdu literature (in English), Zinda Javed (Immortalized), Majeed
Amjad Ki Shairi Ke Angrezi Trajum” (English Translations of Majid Amjad’s Poetry),
Teen Shair, Teen Muba’his” (Three Poets, Three Debates). She is expected
to publish soon a compilation of poetry “Khud Kalami Ka Roznamcha” (The
Diary of Monologue) and her novel is also expected to be published in India.
___________
Kamran Awan
Kamran Awan is known for his English translations of Urdu poetry. He lives in Lahore, working as a Vice President with a major Bank of Pakistan. Kamran has also penned down some poems in Urdu. In addition, he has also written some short stories in English.
___________
Beautiful poems
Loved reciting these poems.
Arifa Shahzad’s poetry resonates with profound themes of life, death, love, and longing, expressed through rich imagery and evocative language.
In “The Earth Knows Not,” Shahzad crafts a poignant reflection on mortality, juxtaposing the inevitability of death with the beauty of existence. The imagery of mummified faces and coffins of smiles conveys a haunting yet graceful acceptance of life’s transience.
Similarly, “A Woman, I’m!” celebrates the sensory experience of life, urging readers to embrace the vibrancy of the world around them. Shahzad’s exploration of nature’s beauty and human emotions is imbued with a sense of reverence and introspection.
Finally, “The Departed Dears” elegantly captures the enduring presence of loved ones in memories and the natural world, offering solace amidst loss. Through her poetic craftsmanship, Shahzad invites readers to contemplate the interconnectedness of life and the enduring power of love and remembrance.
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