- FOR THE LOVE OF WORDS
(I give to Afzal Shauq and “Twist Of Fates”)
______________
Melissa Lundeen,
Although it is far too often implied, the pen is mightier than the sword well, if this indeed be so, then Afzal Shauq's pen must be more like a lethal dagger. His words though small in their number, loom large in the eye. They pierce the heart so fiercely when they are read. I too must shamelessly confess was a victim of their ferocity like some loving violence speaking out from the pages with a hauntingly humble and beautiful voice. I have had long conversations with Afzal Shauq myself and found him to be sensitive and charming but nothing prepared me for how so very well I would get to know him just from reading his latest book of poems. I feel I know him far better now from that more so than any conversation we two could ever have had on any given day of the week and for whatever length of the duration. I learned this fact maybe twenty poems into his book. Dear readers ,its as if you can almost taste his disbelief and hope so intermingled as he looks upon his world and ponders the why of it all and with he being not one to squander his words each small meal he feeds the eyes is a banquet to the mind. Upon reading his poems I have also learned there is romance even in disappointment. Whether reflecting on poverty, war, injustice of one's circumstances or the stark inconceivableness of inhumanity Afzal Shauq lends his words and offers up his own poet's heart to the reader to be accepted or dismissed in the matter.
So many poems stand out in my mind. # 26 titled ONE QUESTION how it reminded me of the poverty and sadness I faced while visiting
into my mind from reading just 36 words from this man's hand. That I found to be most powerful to behold.
ONE QUESTION
*****
I ask you
Is survival right?
who is that child?
baby of the streets...
hunger in his eyes
lips cracked and dry
for him no play.
Each day he toils
Seeking sustenance
on the garbage dumps.
In #51 titled LOVE I was so moved by a short, sweet, poignant love poem. A clever heart sure piece on how love truly can conquer all. This is a theme no human with a heart in his chest can tire of reading about and Afzal Shauq spun his own gold weave and made that theme fit his words like a loving colorful, hopeful cloak.
LOVE
*****
Love...
deafens
blinding.
fearless
LOVE
melts stone
frees souls
expands
Two hearts
evolving
committed
And with LOVE...
Culture.
Location,
Beliefs,
All vanish.
This I believe.
Truly it was so lovely to read #76 titled MOHAMMAD (p.b.u.h.)and see no matter what one's religion, it's one's belief system and never dying deep inner hope that helps one get through the worst possible tragedies. How gently he wrote of his reverence for that love that is far, far greater than one's self.
MOHAMMAD (p.b.u.h)
*****
When by cruel time beaten
and I feel myself wounded
Each wound like the flower
blooms in agony...
I feel a breaking inside
like a house into rubble
when earthquakes shake
destroying everything.
Through all these tortures
Before the first tear falls
streaking my weary cheek
YOU reach out to help
YOU
like the Christ
healing my wounds
removing my pain.
While in poem #87 titled DESIRE TO MEET I wondered how could one write of so much aching with so few words was that feat even possible and I laughed through my own heart's tears at the end of it when I realized yes it is!
DESIRE TO MEET
*****
Patience waning
choking my heart
its her...
I grow weary
always waiting
I want...
She plays with me
promise of soon
today?...
Still just new friends
the desire always...
to meet.
Shall I now admit that I wept openly after reading poem # 103 titled LADIES OF THE RED SOIL ( in their own view) and how it made my own heart burn for any woman mistreated by the men who are suppose to love them most and it was a man who wrote these very words and made me feel united with such women in sadness for their plight. Such poem made me think any human's soul knows this very truth and should feel deep shame for mistreating another human being especially one who loves them and has bore them their children out of love.
LADIES OF THE RED SOIL
(In their own view)
*****
Ladies of the proud nation
living on the red soil
closed mouth
speaking nothing.
Lines in their faces
express
that left silent.
If they could but speak
surely
they would ask men....
"If I made of flesh
like you
being human
"Answer God
who then
made us different?"
"Man the greater...
Lowly
I have become
Meaningless my life
avoid
without a man"
"You look down at me
so cruel...
yet I am yours..."
How clearly Afzal Shauq showed in his sparse words some very barren truths about men. In his poem #117 titled HEAVENLY PEOPLE OF HELL I could all too easily see the correlation of both Islam and Christianity and how many times wolves come among us like wolves in sheep's clothing. How supposed holy men's deeds appear not so holy if one really examines their words and how they conduct their own lives
amongst their people after all they too are but fallible men yet trained in true purity.
HEAVENLY PEOPLE OF HELL
*****
Submission in God
religions they follow
their actions atheistic...
Sins of the people
ignoring teaching
shall lead to hell...
Hypocrisy in prayers
wishes of their ego
the religion of their hearts.
The beauty and the ache come through so well in poem #120 titled WAR FOR THE SAKE OF GOD (in context with Afghan civil war) as my tears streamed down my face over this man portrayed in this poem's plight I wondered how can any war be considered holy when God loves all and is on no body's side and when the words Thou shall not kill rings in the soul of any man no matter what his belief's schooling. Is this poem written with merely a man's talent or does it come from deeper within from his flesh battling soul trying to better understand his place in this world and make even a modicum of sense out of it. One would be well moved to read this book and find his own vein of questions that he needs to let flow from within himself.
WAR FOR THE SAKE OF GOD
(in context with Afghan civil war)
*****
Wiling to quench
your thirst...
Jehad..
The holly war
Think you well
before taking the sword
And call for Jehad
Oh brother...!
Fulfill my last desire...
After killing me
take my bloody body
to my grave.
May my promised wife
Your sister
remain unwed
let no henna
touch her hand
And.....
Beware these well wishes
who offered up
this idea of killing
For our common good.
For Pashto religion
will never accept them
As a soldier of God
a true martyr.
I could go on and on about how Afzal Shauq's poems on his homeland and on the wars and the poverty and the manners in which some men butcher up religion to make it fit their own hidden agendas' negatively which affects vast numbers of people but that bespeaks way too much negativity and I do not want to shine a light on that part of Afzal Shauq's great talent. I would much rather end my piece with the wonders and joys of his great ability to encapsulate the ache and ecstasy of the love poem and so I close this article with a copy of one of my favorite poems from Afzal Shauq's book "Twists Of Fates"
HER CRITERIA
*****
My hand with love
I have offered
will she give me hers?
at my pockets
she looks....
She weighs herself
in money
not my love for her........
Well, Dear Readers, I do hope I have done my dear friend Mr. Afzal Shauq and his immense talent some justice with this here article of mine. After reading his book I just wanted to share with him (and all of you of course!) how his wonderfully insightful words moved, affected and inspired me.
So very sincerely,
written by:
MELISSA LUNDEEN
palewingedpoetess@yahoo.com
http://www.postpoems.com/members/palewingedpoetess
Web link to article - www.khyberwatch.com
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