POETRY

— POEMS 𝒃𝒚 SALEEM SHAHZAD

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To read a review of these poems, Please here on APPRAISE

 

The god of Fear

 

 

The refuge of the scaffold.

Turn on your heels.

O god of fear!

Lift your heels.

O wind of the desert!

Hold your heels fast.

*** 

 

 

 

The Sunshine of Rain

 

The colour of rain

does not permit

the colour of the sun to fade.

We soaked

a fast colour

in the rain-water

to make a

s

                               o

   
                                  u

                                             n

                                                     d

of butterflies.

Then

the colour of gunpowder

merged in

the sunshine

of rain,

So that

the flames turned into kohl

and spread in the eyes of love.

***

 

 

 

Whispers of Ambiguity

You come out of the neighbourhood of certainty.

Sadness, holding

the moonless night

of the poison of wasps

from the surrounding beehives

in its pouch of pollen grains,

draws a line on foreheads.

In the unfortunate

moments

of uncertainty,

it spins the whispers of ambiguity,

And sits on the chair of the silence of your mind

to decree

that you are nothing

but a figment of imagination,

just a hint of a burden.

***

 

 

 

 

The Recitation of a Dream

Come, let’s make a sea

with the breaths

of a flute.

Let’s wake up

a note.

Come, let’s make a sea

with a hand-cup

full of water.

Let’s smother

the ash

of the burden

of the eyes.

Let’s show

to the eyes

the fish

of the seashells.

Let’s use

the recitation of a dream

to show

the frog

of thirst

the shards

of the tricks

of the waters.

Let’s show

the mirror

of the steam

of the sea

to the colours

of scorpions

on the bed

of glass

through

the mixer

of sleep

on the fodder

for mushrooms.

Come, let’s make a sea.

*** 

 

 

Birds of Lies

As soon as the clocks

of the non-existent world

decreed,

the earth tethered to a peg

was weighed

on the scale of the atmosphere

(the borrowed time was in jeopardy).

When we

started flying

birds of lies,

the dove of truth

fell from the compromise of fact,

so that

the distances

to the non-existent world,

counting the stages of journey.

kept picking the markers

fallen on

the hypocrisy of facts.

 

***

 

(Translated from URDU

 

 by Baidar Bakht

 

)

 

****

The god of Fear

The refuge of the scaffold.

Turn on your heels.

O god of fear!

Lift your heels.

O wind of the desert!

Hold your heels fast.

***

 

 

The Sunshine of Rain

The colour of rain

does not permit

the colour of the sun to fade.

We soaked

a fast colour

in the rain-water

to make a

s

  o

    u

       n

          d

of butterflies.

Then

the colour of gunpowder

merged in

the sunshine

of rain,

So that

the flames turned into kohl

       and spread in the eyes of love.

***

 

 

Whispers of Ambiguity


You come out of the neighbourhood of certainty.

Sadness, holding

the moonless night

of the poison of wasps

from the surrounding beehives

in its pouch of pollen grains,

draws a line on foreheads.

In the unfortunate

moments

of uncertainty,

it spins the whispers of ambiguity,

And sits on the chair of the silence of your mind

to decree

that you are nothing

but a figment of imagination.

just a hint of a burden.

***

 

The Recitation of a Dream


Come, let’s make a sea

with the breaths

of a flute.

Let’s wake up

a note.

Come, let’s make a sea

with a hand-cup

full of water.

Let’s smother

the ash

of the burden

of the eyes.

Let’s show

to the eyes

the fish

of the seashells.

Let’s use

the recitation of a dream

to show

the frog

of thirst

the shards

of the tricks

of the waters.

Let’s show

the mirror

of the steam

of the sea

to the colours

of scorpions

on the bed

of glass

through

the mixer

of sleep

on the fodder

for mushrooms.

Come, let’s make a sea.

***

 

Birds of Lies


As soon as the clocks

of the non-existent world

decreed,

the earth tethered to a peg

was weighed

on the scale of the atmosphere

(the borrowed time was in jeopardy).

When we

started flying

birds of lies,

the dove of truth

fell from the compromise of fact,

so that

the distances

to the non-existent world,

counting the stages of journey.

kept picking the markers

fallen on

        the hypocrisy of facts.

***

(Translated from URDU

 by Baidar Bakht )

****

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Authors

  • Born 0n December 15, 1957 in Bahawal Nagar, Punjab, Pakistan Saleem Shahzad is a trilingual poet, novelist, translator and historian of Pakistan. He is a retired Government Officer. His literary work, spanning 45 years, consists of 10 books: 06 poetry collections 02 Saraiki novels, a book of history, translations of short-stories from Punjabi and Saraiki into Urdu. Saleem Shahzad received National Literary Award twice (on collection of Saraiki poems “𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘢 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘩𝘳”, 2007 and Saraiki Novel “𝘎𝘩𝘢𝘢𝘯”, 2012) and 𝘛𝘢𝘮𝘨𝘩𝘢-𝘦-𝘐𝘮𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘻 from the Government of Pakistan in 2023. He transformed trend of traditional poetry style and diction, using the unusual and untouchable subjects in his poems with his zigzag shaped to lines. His novels also provide rejuvenation to themes and diction of Saraiki novels. So, he may unquestionably be labelled with the honour as a trend setter writer and poet. Saleem Shahzad’s novel “𝘎𝘩𝘢𝘢𝘯”(Whirlpool), published in 2012, has been considered as prediction to the pandemic CORONA because novel depicts story of an epidemic which confines people to homes wearing masks. Now-a-days, he has been working on another novel in Punjabi language. His two collections of poems are to be published soon.

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  • Baidar Bakht, born in 1940, took his first degree in civil engineering from Aligarh, and M.Sc. and D.Sc from London University. He is a bridge engineer by profession, but now retired from full-time employment. He is Adjunct Professor of civil engineering at the universities of Toronto and Manitoba. He is renowned for his translations of modern Urdu poetry into English. Since 1974, Baidar Bakht has been living in Toronto, Canada, with his family.

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Fraz
1 year ago

Umda

Saleem shahzad
1 year ago
Reply to  Fraz

Saleem shahzad

Muhammad Shakeel
1 year ago
Reply to  Saleem shahzad

Excellent.
Saleem Shahzad the Great Poet,
Novalist and writer of Modern Diction
used of Poetry and Novalis.

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago

Thanks shakeel

Saleem shahzad
1 year ago
Reply to  Fraz

Thanks

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago
Reply to  Fraz

Thank U Fraz

Hassan irshad
1 year ago

سلیم شہزاد جدید نظم نگاری میں اسلوبیاتی اور موضوعاتی اعتبار سے امام کی حیثیت اختیار کرگئے ہیں ۔اکیسویں صدی میں نثری نظم سلیم شہزاد کے بغیر مکمل نہیں ہوتی ۔اب سلیم شہزاد کی نظم پر سنجیدہ مطالعے کی بہت زیادہ ضرورت ہے ۔ان کی نظموں کا انگریزی میں ترجمہ ایک بہت خوش آئند پہلو ہے ۔۔۔۔۔

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago
Reply to  Hassan irshad

Thanks

Tasneem A Siddiqui
1 year ago

I appreciate Saleem Shazad for his excellent work in poetry.it was my honor that I had a chance to be class fellow of his and learnt a lot during stay with in the class and of the class well done Saleem I am looking you much much ahead of your present status. Please keep it up.
your well wisher
Tasneem A Siddiqui
New York

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago

Thanks for your encourgeous comments.

Tauqir Reza
1 year ago

Wonderful Poet ⭐️♥️

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago
Reply to  Tauqir Reza

Thanks.

Iftikhar Ahmad
1 year ago

Saleem Shahzad has a signature style in diction and imagery. He is brave enough to tread his own path and just does not hungrily look for appreciation and approval by the conventional audience. He will surely be lauded and praised by those who can free themselves from the shackles of repetition and immitation.It is a commendable effort by Baidar Bakht to introduce him to the world. The translations here almost invokes the desired feeling as it does in the source language.

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago
Reply to  Iftikhar Ahmad

Thanks a lot dear.

Nasir Karim Khan
1 year ago

In “The god of Fear,” Saleem Shahzad evokes a sense of dread and urgency through vivid imagery and commanding language. The personification of fear and the plea to turn away create a haunting atmosphere. The use of short, fragmented lines enhances the intensity of the emotions, while the juxtaposition of the god of fear with the wind of the desert adds depth to the poem’s thematic elements.

“The Sunshine of Rain” beautifully explores the interplay of colors and elements, symbolizing the fusion of rain and sunshine. The imagery of rain-soaked butterflies and the transformation of gunpowder flames into kohl in the eyes of love are striking. The poet skillfully crafts a sensory experience, linking the visual and emotional realms. The poem suggests a harmonious relationship between contrasting forces, portraying the beauty that emerges from their union.

“Whispers of Ambiguity” delves into uncertainty and the impact it has on an individual’s perception of self. The metaphor of sadness holding the moonless night and the whispers of ambiguity spinning in moments of uncertainty create a melancholic atmosphere. The silence of the mind and the decree that one is nothing but a figment of imagination add a layer of existential contemplation, making the reader ponder the fragility of identity.

“The Recitation of a Dream” invites the reader to embark on a poetic journey of creation and imagination. The imagery of making a sea with a flute’s breath, waking up a note, and showing the fish of seashells to the eyes paints a surreal and enchanting picture. The use of dream-like elements and vivid descriptions contributes to the poem’s ethereal quality, prompting readers to explore the boundaries of reality and imagination.

“Birds of Lies” explores the consequences of falsehoods and the distortion of truth in a metaphorical flight of birds. The clocks of the non-existent world decreeing and the dove of truth falling from the compromise of fact symbolize the precarious nature of falsehood. The poem comments on the societal impact of lies and the unraveling of reality when falsehoods take flight.

If we look at these poems collectively, we can say that Saleem Shahzad’s poetry is characterized by rich imagery, metaphorical depth, and a thought-provoking exploration of themes. Each poem offers a unique perspective, blending emotion and intellect. The poet’s ability to use language creatively and present unconventional subjects highlights his literary genius. These poems form patterns of emotions, reflections, and aesthetic experiences that engage the reader in a profound journey through Shahzad’s poetic landscape.

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago

Thank you Nasir for your detailed and elaborated review.

Lisan hyder
1 year ago

شاندار شخص کی جاندار شاعری جدید اسلوب زمانے اور زبان کی قید سے ازاد

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago
Reply to  Lisan hyder

Thanks.

Attique Ahmad
1 year ago

Saleem Shahzad is gteat poet of Urdu, Punjabi and Sarski. Gteat poems with exvellent translations.

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago
Reply to  Attique Ahmad

Thank you dear.

Ali Baba Taj
1 year ago

A very good selection of verses from senior and well-known poet Mr. Saleem Shehzad. Being a regular reader of this poet I admire the translator who didn’t miss the unique style and poetical format of the poet in translation.

Ali Baba Taj
Quetta – Pakistan

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago
Reply to  Ali Baba Taj

Thanks Ali.

Aziz Badar
1 year ago

سلیم شہزاد نظم نگاری میں نئ راہ متعین کرتے ہیں. اپنے سابقہ اور ہم عصر شعراء میں الگ اور انفرادی اسلوب ان کا طرہ امتیاز ہے. ان کی نظم میں تازیانہ اور زناٹے کا احساس ملتا ہے. وہ عمیق مشاہدے کے حامل ہیں اور ان قوت شامہ وہ بھی سنتی ہے جو عام آدمی ادراک بھی نہیں کر سکتا. مختصر سلیم شہزاد اپنی طرز کا واحد نظم نگار ہے.

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago
Reply to  Aziz Badar

ثشکر بسیار۔

Ahmed khan
1 year ago

Ahmad Khan

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago
Reply to  Ahmed khan

Thanks

Tahir Naim
1 year ago

Saleem Shahzaad, a very quite and decent person in normal life of this small town but very softly saying thhe harsh realities of life. Is daring to go his way, without caring for critics and writting in a very suttle way. I have the honour to be his friend for the last 20 years

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago
Reply to  Tahir Naim

Thanks a lot dear

Fraz
1 year ago

What a brilliant piece of poetry, truly inspiring.

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago
Reply to  Fraz

Thanks dear

Kiran Khan
1 year ago

A very artisitic way to portray the tragic reality of world through words”Figment of imagination” .Keep sharing your work with us

Saleem shahzad
10 months ago
Reply to  Kiran Khan

Thanks

Tahira
1 year ago

great poems

Mansoor wattoo
1 year ago

Mr Saleem Shahzad is the great poet of specific diction of poetry in Pakistan

Fatima
1 year ago

Amazing poetry and translations

Sajjad Parvez
1 year ago

It’s heartening to see English translation of Renowned Poet of Pakistan Sir Saleem Shehzad’s poetry here. His expression is cool just like moonlight while it’s meaning so much deep to highlight soft and gentle behaviour of human being. Sir Saleem Shehzad’ s style now becomes beacon of light for budding literary personalities. He has equal command while expressing in prose and poetry in his unique style. His diction is like Hawana’s cigar aromatic and mesmerising.

Ahmad Bilal
1 year ago

A Poet of unique genre, Having Multilingual refine literary intellect, Research based Historian…Mr. Salim Shahzad once has been remained the lone voice of south Punjab in the literary circles of such manifolds talents. He was the first Person to bring in the limelight of “Forgotten splendour of Once thriving Hacra civilization “. His refined intellect captured thousands of admirers. His great services were acknowledged and he was conferred with national award. He is our pride.May his life long with good health and Prosperity……

Saad abid
1 year ago

I absolutely adore Saleem Shezad’s novels! Their storytelling skills are unmatched, and their book of history is equally captivating. They have a remarkable ability to bring historical events to life, making it feel like you’re right there witnessing it all. Their attention to detail and thorough research are truly commendable. I’m constantly amazed by their talent of writing 👌🏻♥️

Munir Fayyaz
1 year ago

Poems of Saleem Shèhzåd take their content and diction from the ugly world around us. He doesn’t fall prey to the outdated aesthetics of tradition Urdu poetry.
He sees ugliness of exploitation and makes transfigures it into poetry by his artistic finesse. His poems reflect scenes from the commonplace landscapes of everyday life that escape the looks of onlookers. His poems invite us to have a deeper look into the state of affairs of the contemporary man and his surroundings. Nature of his images is sharp. His poems bear avery potent visual, lexical and themetic, and rhythmic and acoustic dimensions.
The visual presentation of his poems on paper is equally artistic.
Bedar Bakht has accomplished an uphill task in transliterating these poems in English. He has contained the form and style of the original in transliteration. Bakht has also worked hard in keeping the quintessence of the original poems as we see minimal ‘lost in translation’ factor in them.
Hats off to both the poet and translator.
Munir Fayyaz

Syed Ali Abbas
1 year ago

Saleem Shahzad sb is lengend of bahawalnagar he is voice of bahawalnagar. the great punjabi poet.

Zeeshan Ali
1 year ago

Mr.Saleem shahzad is one of the great personality, very adorable peraon and great poet of the Area.

Naveed Paracha
1 year ago

Very impressive poems by great poet Saleem Shahzad.

Mirza salman
1 year ago

He is a good poet.

Imran
1 year ago

I remember reading Saleem Shahzad’s book کٹی پوروں سے بہتی نظمیں and the first thing which came into my mind was, “This is not what we get to see in conventional poets.” Hats off sir. God bless you

Orangzab
1 year ago

Nice work Done. ☺️

Najam Ul Hasnain Haider
1 year ago

Saleem Shahzad focuses on capturing fleeting moments and moods rather than precise details. He emphasises the play of light, colour and socio economic depressions in portrayal of scenes. Intense emotions and subjective experiences of a sensitive heart are conveyed in pieces of strong and powerful lines to explore the themes of alienation, beautifully.
He always challenges traditional norms of poetry and Incorporates surreal elements to question the meaning and purpose of life and existence. What a great Poet of his own class, he is. 

Yasir Iqbal
1 year ago

Salim Shahzad has made bold innovations and vigorous experiments in recent poetic styles, deviating from the limited and the selective so-called poetic diction of contemporary Urdu poetry. He has not merely changed the diction, but has proved that there are a lot of words and terms of daily usage that can be unexpectedly meaningful in poetry. Salim Shahzad’s poems’ distinctive non-metrical rhythm also attracts, which is clearly recognizable amidst the flat prose rhythm of the contemporary non-metrical poetry. Above all, there is a unique style of his poem which on the one hand creates a structured symbolic narrative and on the other hand gives the entire poem a wonderful free association of images. We know that the transmission of thought is usually neglected in the flow of such adventurous poetic experiments. However, Salim Shahzad’s grasp on poetic expression is commendable that while cutting the mountains of popular cliché styles, he carves unique poems of his own kind and does not allow the wave of his specific progressive thought to subside. Moreover, Salim Shehzad has, for the first time, introduced the style of writing obliquely across the page i.e. dimensional typography in Urdu poetry, has given a meaningful shape to the visual presentation of the poetic text.

Last edited 1 year ago by Yasir Iqbal
Mohsin Amjad
1 year ago

I Have Read These Poems. Truly Very Happy And very impressed By The The Writer. Hoping To See More stuff in Future. Thankyou

Arshad Nadeem
1 year ago

I wanted to take a moment to express my admiration and appreciation for the great poet, Saleem Shahzad, on his new article.
Saleem Shahzad’s talent for writing beautiful and impactful poetry is truly remarkable. His words have the power to touch the depths of our souls and evoke a sense of nostalgia, love, and longing. His mastery of the Siraiki language and his ability to weave together words in such a captivating manner is truly commendable.
Saleem Shahzad’s new article is a testament to his creativity, passion, and dedication to his craft. His words have the ability to transport us to another world, where we can experience the beauty and richness of the Siraiki culture.
I am grateful for the opportunity to read and experience his work, and I am sure that many others share this sentiment.
Please pass on my heartfelt congratulations and appreciation to Saleem Shahzad for his exceptional talent and for sharing Wonderfu Books and Article To The World

Thankyou
Muhammad Arshad Nadeem ( Bahawalnagar)

Muhammad Safdar
1 year ago

بہت اعلی۔
سلیم شہزاد ہمارے وسیب کا نظریاتی استعارہ لے کر معاشرے میں موجود خلیج کو اجاگر کر رہا ہے اب یہ وسیب کے باسیوں کی ذمہ داری ہے کہ سماج کی خالی جگہ کو اقدار کی خوشبو سے پر کریں۔

Liaqat Aish
11 months ago

The art of explaining the rational reasoning hidden in characters, species and their factors is not only difficult but in comprehensible to any ordinary writer. Sensing the stench of rampant Immorality spread in the society, wrapping it in characters and wearing the cover of words and entering in to the process of feelings and raising the protest loudly. Saleem shahzad’s writing and speaking in transcendental, He feels himself in the character and enjoy his egony and open the door to the truth. There is a protest in his poetry, there is cry for causes the creation of a suppressed society. Why not, On the soil which he born the effects and mark of invaders, Others, could not be erased for centuries and been passed down from generation to generation. In last his thoughts and writings will be seen as document and references for the future.

Jahanzaib Lashary
11 months ago

Really loved the poems.

Akhtar ali
11 months ago

Excellent Murshid.

Ahmad
11 months ago

Saleem Shahzad, the eminent poet, novelist, and modern fiction writer, skillfully employed his craft in both poetry and novels.

Barak Ullah
11 months ago

Saleem Shahzad’s poem “The god of Fear” is a brief yet impactful exploration of fear, using vivid imagery and imperative language to convey a sense of urgency and tension. The poem’s brevity and symbolic elements invite readers to reflect on their own interpretations of fear and its implications.

Barak Ullah
11 months ago

“Birds of Lies” is a richly metaphorical poem that engages with the complexities of truth and falsehood. The surreal and symbolic elements invite readers to contemplate the consequences of deception and the fragile nature of the connection between truth and the non-existent world.
Saleem Shahzad explores themes of deception, the illusion of time, and the consequences of falsehood. The vivid imagery and metaphorical language create a thought-provoking piece that delves into the complexities of truth and falsehood.

Ahmad Saeed
11 months ago

Marvelous pieces of poetry by Sir Salim Shehzad, a Great Poet / Intellectual of Pakistan, who always transmits the beauty of nature, humanity, love, and affection into sweet words, which create heeling and pleasant emotion for the kind hearted. May God Bless Sir Salim Shehzad and empower to conceive more like such beautiful rhymes and poetry. Best wishes and prayers Sir.

Muhammad Akram
10 months ago

Masha Allah, I have seen it. He is a very powerful poet. He writes in verses in three languages.

The titles of his poems are also absorbing in his English poems and he has an excellent sense of language having a native style command.

He is a good linguist in as many languages always immersed in creative abundance.

The English poems I’ve just seen are full of sensibility. His themes are diverse and his wild imagination does not spend much time in any one atmospher.

Rather his thoughts keep moving around. His biggest advantage is that he is an expert in geners and understands their nuances. And he is also well versed with the traditions of English literature. I initially thought itwould be great if had been able to find a book of his English poems or even a PDF. So I would probably be able to enjoy it more.

(Thanks Akram Sahib for introducing me to such gem of a poet)…

Kashif Manzoor

DG Public Libraries Punjab

Abdul Aziz Khan
10 months ago

Saleem Shehzad’s poetry is a radiant tapestry woven with the threads of soul, each word a brushstroke painting a vivid picture of emotion and experience. With every verse, you invite me into a world where thoughts dance gracefully and emotions sing melodiously. Your mastery of language is awe-inspiring, effortlessly capturing the ineffable and transforming it into tangible beauty. Through your words, you have the remarkable ability to touch the hearts of all who have the privilege of reading your work. Your poetry is not merely written; it is felt, deeply and profoundly, resonating within the depths of our beings. Your talent is a beacon of light in a world that often feels dim, reminding us of the power and magic that exists within the realm of literature.

[…] To read Poems of Saleem Shahzad, Please click here […]

Fiction
Poems by Saleem Shahzad
The Last Rain
Poems by Saleem Shahzad
5 Poems by Saleem Shahzad - The god of Fear, Sunshine of Rain, Whispers of Ambiguity, Recitation of a Dream & Birds of Lies - Urdu Poetry
Khalid Fateh Muhammad
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