MODERN PASHTO POETRY
(Alley Boling Brings Modern Poetry Of
Afzal Shauq To An Anglophone Audience )
_________
Muneeza Shamsie
The translation of the Pashto poet Shauq by the American writer Alley Boling brings modern Pashto poetry to an Anglophone audience. The book is imbued with verses , such as “Cry” which make a passionate plea for Pashto and for Pathans to reclaim their rightful inheritance. There are several romantic poems, including “Lonely Moments’ which comment on a writer’s use of verse to compensate for absence; others such as “ Broken Branches” , “ The Earthquake of time” and “Blind Justice” revolve around social injustice and the harsh life of poor.
NOTE: ‘the Poems, quoted by the worthy critic in her article are added below’ …... Nazish Zafar
CRY
***
Mountain children
the time has come
to end the silence
Sound out
like mountain shepherds
returning with their flock
You are not animals
that have no sense
you deserve a better life.
Yes It is time..
Sweet language of Pashto
Lay claim to respect
with a cry.
( Twist Of Fates/Poem No.39/ p- 69)
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LONELY MOMENTS
***
Pen in hand...
I place nib
upon your picture.
there to place
My mark
Upon your face
As I attempt to write ...
Your face vanishes...
and there
I write this verse.
( Twist Of Fates/Poem No.8/ p- 36)
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BROKEN BRANCHES
See ...
the desert heart
waters its thirst.
Sweat
Blood
Tears...
The Desert demands
and buildings must rise...
Walls to be built.
Blocks formed.
those sweating hard at labor.
The earth runs red
beneath the tree of life...
Workers hanging like sheep
in the desert butchers' shop...
Where droplets fall
and blood flows.
And in this endless cycle...
those that are left behind
with red eyes weeping
leave rivers of tears
mourning those now gone
and the desert ...drinks.
( Twist Of Fates/Poem No.2/ p- 28)
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THE EARTHQUAK OF TIME
***
I believe
the Lines of fate
vary from hand to hand
each a different destiny
But Why is it
The poor seems
always the great loser
with the earthquake of time
Could it be the lines of fate...?
For the hands of poor
have seen hard work
and the lines worn
till only dashes remain.
( Twist Of Fates/Poem No.42/ p- 72)
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BLIND JUSTICE
***
(The one who grievances first is right)
Even though...
They presented to court
the blood stained Knife
The tool of slaying
Leaving the man a corpse.
With all the evidence
There is no conviction
Justice for the dead denied
Shouts arise pleading...
Yet the judge remains deaf.
( Twist Of Fates/Poem No.254/ p- 327)
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MUNEEZA SHAMSIE
"Muneeza Shamsie" mshamsie@gmail.com
(Muneeza Shamsie, "
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