- AFZAL SHAUQ
AS A TRUE HUMANIST
Feelings of Afzal Shauq seem to be
the Beats of Hearts
______________
Andreea Sarcani
As an artist , poetess, writer and linguistics expert, I strongly believe in the existence of an universal language, a secret voice that all poets hear maybe all at same privileged time, meant to melt all linguistic all barriers. When it comes to art, even if it is music or literature, I consider we should connect and vibrate to the inner voice of an artistic work and to think of unity, not of differences.
Though I have no knowledge of Pashto, Mr. Afzal Shauq’s native language but the adaptation of his thoughts into English language let me perceived the right sense of Afzal Shauq’s linguistic and poetic terms and the genuine spirit of his poetry, added to the book TWIST OF FATES .
The poetry of Afzal Shauq appeared to me rich, honest, completely lacking any artificial touch. His poems emphasizes a well- known statement about art regarded more as a question than as an answer. His themes are sensitive, profound, human, natural. He speaks of love, as experience, that in spite of all the pain, one shouldn’t miss. Then he fears the lacking of spirit of our modern times, he own human nature, that reminds more of animal’s instincts than of an enlightening dimension.
If I could think of a motto, for Afzal Shauq’s poetry that would be “ Life is sweet struggle ” as he mentioned in the following poem with a very much imaginary way being a true poet of dreams… keeping his thoughts advancing…
VERSES OF POEMS
*****
I feel spiritual unrest
you are the queen
who holds
state over my heart
Each night brings dreams
the delegation of
sweet feelings
Like the presentation of
red lei
When morning comes,
The dreams
inspire my writing
in these verses of poems
(Twist of Fates/ Poem No.199/ Page No.265)
In Afzal Shauq 's TWIST OF FATES the human values system is shaken, your friends might become your enemies. He tackles two major themes. Love and War. They merge, they sometimes play each other's part , they cannot be separated, like the light and its shadow. They represent the two dimensions of life itself. The humans have two choices to make: to love or to fight, to fight for their ideals. Love is also a fight… undefeatable fight between the heart and soul as Afzal Shauq referred to the following poem with an innovative theme…
THE STRUGGLE
*****
Eternal struggle ...
Me and my heart
always in battle
The issue the same.
I would burn
into the ashes
for the sake of my love.
My heart ...
With a will of its own
Makes its way
to the heart
of every beautiful girl
I happen to meet…
(Twist of Fates/ Poem No.293/ Page No.367)
Afzal Shauq describes the tremendous variety of human emotions . We have to bear the Great Misery of life and unceasingly to dream and struggle for a better world. The wish of living in a better purer world lives under the same shelter with the awareness of being a human and having a fragile soul. Here is one of his poems, rooted to the evil egoistic concerns of satanic behavior, owned by the humankind may sensitize the readers to think of the fact he disclosed in following poem..
THE COMPANION OF SATAN
*****
An angel mentioned...
“ Look ... the human beings
trying to look as I do.”
Satan laughed loudly saying ...
“ As much as human beings
look like you...
I am like blood
in their veins,
twisting their emotions,
temping them to surrender to me.”
(Twist of Fates/ Poem No.300/ Page No.377)
Most of his poems are love poems, some of them dedicated to an imaginary woman, some to a woman in flesh and blood, or a woman that he discovers in the begging way of his thirsty heart’s unquenchable desires..
BEGGING HEART
*****
From the fountains
to the river edge
to the sea’s beaches
I present
this begging heart
for love's sake
Uncertain the thirst
Like a dry desert
this heart yearns.
And comes to the water
again and again...
(Twist of Fates/ Poem No.209/ Page No.277)
Afzal Shauq fears the cruelty of humans craving for power, he is a conqueror and a surrender at the same time as he expressed in one of his poems “ Defeated Soldiers “ which may let the readers keep seriously think about his cognitive depth and new-fangled vision with the interesting poetic way he presented. The afore mentioned Poem is added here …
DEFEATED SOLDIERS
*****
Like the soldier...
with flag in hand
I advanced forth
seeking victory
over your heart.
The first
strike was yours...
I was frozen...
with one quick
sweet glance
those beautiful eyes
taking my heart prisoner.
Instead of
my planned occupation...
I surrendered...
my dreams and feelings
one by one they fell
like defeated soldiers.
(Twist of Fates/ Poem No.10/ Page No.38)
Reading his poems we can hear a Voice invoking the divine justice, because humans are unable to see the Truth. The restrictions and the customs imposed by the society, the barriers set between people are the reason for a great wish for freedom is born. Which actually endorses self-centeredness in humans. Some of poems of Afzal Shauq are very targeted and hitting the false egoistic behavior of human kind. But the one I add here is more touchy to the passion and criteria of faith and justice of new era , he criticizes..
LOVE AND BLOOD
*****
"The one
who laughs at you
is your well wisher
but the one who cries
for your damn condition
is your enemy"
This your twisted
criteria of justice
Oh my dear brother...!
By love and blood bound
How can I prove
being so caught up
crying for your terrible life
makes it impossible
for you to hear
the cries of Pashto.
(Twist of Fates/ Poem No.224/ Page No.293)
What’s more then my understanding in the poems of Afzal ? Let the time and readers decide for the TWIST OF FATES and the destiny of it’s author.
ANDREEA SARCANI
Freelance Writer/ Columnist
Cell : 0040728.012.092
E-mail: andreea.sarcani@gmail.com
http://andreea-sarcani.blogspot.com
http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/a/ascetika/
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