O Land Mine!1.
Faiz Ahmad Faiz2
In every lane yours, O Land mine, my heart I lay
Where “No head shall rise!” now the way
Stealthily to the tryst, must your love proceed
And guard its life ‘n limb night ‘n day
For those with heart, now this the decree
Stones ‘n wood in prison, and dogs roam free
Suffice for the hand oppressive as excuse
The few love-crazed that proclaim your name
The plaintiff and the judge both venal plain
Who be counsel, from whom one justice obtain?
But one who will not give up, still goes on
‘Tis how he does night and day, of you forlorn:
Now that the light through prison hole has faded
My heart sees stars parting your hair
Now that my chains are bright and un-shaded
I know the dawn in your visage did appear
Thus, I live in thoughts of today and the ‘morrow
In the shadow of prison walls ‘n door, my sorrow
Such has been the rift between Creation and oppression
Neither their ritual nor mine new for the eye to see
In such manner have my kind watered flowers in the fire
Not new is their defeat, not new my victory
For this reason I don’t complain of the sky
Even forlorn of your love, my hope won’t die
If away today, tomorrow we’ll be one
This night of separation is no great ordeal
If rival’s moon is bright today, so it be!
‘Tis ephemeral apotheosis is not real!
Those who in your love keep strong
Know the panacea for every wrong!
(Translated by Asif Iftikhar, Montreal, August 14, 2003)
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1. On the independence day of my beloved country, I dedicate this translation to all the oppressed people on God’s earth. His Justice shall come – Here or in the Hereafter.
2. The translator wishes to thank Mr Yasir Hashmi and Mrs Salima Hashmi for their permission to publish this humble translation