TWIST OF FATES
TWIST OF FATES
TWIST OF FATESCollected Poems of Afzal Shauq Translated by Alley BolingTWIST OF FATES .. Collected poems of Afzal ShauqTranslation by Alley Boling Published in Islamabad PakistanAugust 2006 First Edition. ContactsAlley Boling Georgia USA. alley_boling2006@yahoo.com &
DEDICATION
I would like to dedicate this work to the loved ones in my life.... who have always had faith in me.... Who supported me in my times of trial.... Who always loved me in spite of my faults. Thank you for always standing by me you special people of my life.
ABOUT THE AUTHER AFZAL SHAUQ
Author M. Afzal Shauq was born in the valleys of the Pashtoon region of North West Pakistan. He attended Balochistan University where he received his masters degree in sociology. In 1998 he received a second masters in Demography from the Cairo Demographic Center in Cairo Egypt. From 1983 - 1986 he being professor lectured on sociology at several Universities. Starting in1986 till the present, he has served as executive officer on Populatio
AFZAL SHAUQ,Pashhto Poet Writer
Ayaz Daudzai, a famous Critic and the ex-Chief Controller of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation ... “He’s magnetic & mature...a traveler in peace... poetry with global touches. “a person of hundreds of stories” Saad uddin Shpoon, Voice of America (Pashto) Producer USA and a Famous Educationist... “He enriches the Pashto language... with new ideas.... letting loose the readers imagination” &nbsp
PREFACE
PREFACE I would like to thank Afzal Shauq for allowing me the honor of being the translator of his poetry. For the past two years I have attempted to express his work with the sensitivity and care it deserves. I find his work insightful, passionate and honest. He is a man driven by his dreams. He seeks to find a perfection in life that can only live in dreams, but I respect his endless search for that perfect
POEM 1 14
POEM 1A NEW DAWN In years of cruelty past there came a new dawn the bright light burned melting frozen hearts. Come New Dawn... break forth a bright new day. Oh sun come... part the long dark hair of night. The time has come... The need for a new justice Freedom from all these demi gods of money. Sun burn away... Melt these gods
POEM 15/24
POEM 15PASHTANI HODA(An Instinctive Behavior) Wind of autumn!Hot dusty storm !Well known you are... plucking leaves driving clouds...sand mountains forming The air dust filledthe markers topplesupon the body's grave Wind of autumn!Hot dusty storm!Well known you are... A child of courageborn from mother's milkwith patience abides... I am not water's foam nor the desert tent at your power's m
POEM 25/34
POEM 25HEART Broken walls can be repaired...Empty stems can grow new leaves... But my heart bitter with pain...Is like the birdtrying his wings...He fails to flyWhen the pain comes. ____ POEM 26ONE QUESTION I ask you...Is survival right?who is that child?baby of the streets...hunger in his eyeslips cracked and dryfor him no play.Each day he toilsSeeking sustenance o
POEM35/44
POEM 35EXPECTATION I live in hopesthis is the nightyou will stay... But like my shadowin the light of dayyou stay beside me. But as the sun setsand darkness fallsYou always leave ... My sweet friend...You are the candleof another's house. So I can haveno expectation. _____POEM 36MY WISH Fate be not the blame nor time the aggressorwhich did the beating.It was me ...
POEM 45/54
POEM 45TO MY FRIEND Without youI am incomplete... Because of youfame now Is ours... Your beauty like springrenews with colorthe heart and soulI vie with otherswho desire you... Full of life's thick bloodSo often pricked by youMy blood has thinned to red ink.I know your sting's painUn healing wounds I carry.Yet like thorns on the rose I desire to protect you. I am scorched by your fire ...Smoldering lik
POEM 55/64
POEM 55I AM NOT ALONE I am not alone, Angel of deathhaunts me ever following...worries consumefire flamesburning in my heart. I am not alone... Suspicious lifeshadowsalways are lurking trying to avoid myselfrunning to and fro. I am not alone... Person possessedseeking longing for refuge seeking a placenone see even death's angel . So what to do....
POEM 65/74
POEM 65BEAUTY PRIDE.. These beautiful peoplelost to beauty's valuefearing the nightprolonging the summercrushing heartslike the toys.. So cruel are theyin their behaviorwhilestepping themselves toorapidly towards the past ____ POEM 66HEY GIRL ! Like sweet flowershaving beautymy heart my thoughtsmy feelingsdesire you. Like the stoneyour heartso heavyyour tho
POEM 85/94
POEM 85LOST PASSENGER Now suffer poor lost passenger,the fault is yours... "Hey Shauq !You thought not well thoughthis time the journey..” The choice been madestray from known pathsyou have been led. You are nowa passenger lostfar from your home._____POEM 86SPEECHLESS I am wasted... Devoured by eyesStolen by beautyCharmed by actionsInspired by sweet words. Left behindmy empty bo
POEM95/104
POEM 95CONFUSION OF LOVE You love meThere's no doubt But it's loveThat keeps me wondering For in lovethere is no fairness. So many ...are the rules.So many...are the ways. And alwaysone keeps questioning. Is their loveas desired ...Is their loveas expressed... Love's problem no clarity...Always lostamid the confusion. _____POEM 96MEANINGLESS DREAM Not only in my drea
POEM 105/114
POEM 105PASHTOON …NEVER BE DEFEATED In the flower of youthwith open heartI stepped forth... I remain the winnerover youth's brutalitythough mournful the feelings. But defeat beginsgnawing away at metainting my open heart... From that day onwardHeart's thirst I quenchIn my tears for peace... I can not accept nor refuse to see Pashto eve
POEM 115/124
POEM 115HOW CAN YOU COMPETE...? There is no way to blameyou for choosingto stay far removefor your children's sake my heartlooking uponshreds for clothesyour dignity strippedwar induced poverty.. Just think... You cant hide the ragsthey call your clothes nor keep your respectabilityeven your Pashto languageseems stripped of pride.
POEM 125/133
POEM 125FRIEND... LIKE AN ENEMY If not my friendperhaps my enemy... You entered my heart ...Playing with my feelings. This heart in need of healing...You deepened my wounds. Like an enemy your saltinflicted me with more pain. Please for my sakeBehave like a friend. _____POEM 126IS IT LOVE..YOU THINK? Nothing simpl
POEM 135/144
POEM 135HOW BIG IS THE WOLRD? I journey onward ...Just a few more steps...and I will finally reachthis world's end. Exhausted...I sit to rest awhile.Surveying what’s left ahead...Realization strikes... Like a snake crawling...Life's path twists and turnsand the distance ...are always expanding. _____POEM 136WHIRL WIND How it happened..?I do not kn
POEM 145/154
POEM 145PAPA'S DREAM This is not that nation... according to Papa's dream Nor is this life ...according to Papa's dream Mountains and Men standbetween the peoplekeeping them separatedthis was not the dream of Papa.. All this killing by our own handsfurnished with weapons by self proclaimed humanitarians We are the peoplekilling our own brothers
POEM 155/164
POEM 155THE TRUE FACE OF LIFE When I am near the stageof my desired completion...I am worried... Still all these faces...Motionless picturesin this album ...My memories. Hundreds of faces...Different in raceShades of haircolor of eyes In my confusion...Faces now roadsLeading onto perfection. Miles of stone roads...Ahead a faceBea
POEM165/174
POEM 165DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH " Oh Shauq! weak of courage..Tell me...How will you tolerate the extreme burning of my beauty...Like Pharaoh's Daughterwith boiling blood coursing in my veinsnourishing me...as the Nile does Egypt?" Thunderous the voicewhich speaks to meAnd I am set aflameWith one look at her Her power is youthwith a sparkling smilecrystal laught
POEM175/184
POEM 175AS PER THE FALSE SAY(Keeping Afghani Jehad in view) What do you want?Whom do you fight? Questioning...Armed soldiersMake no replyglancing aboutwith strange eyes. Everyone questionsNo one answersWhat is the truththe cause for fighting All these brothersReady to killeach under falsehood'ssacred saying "If your mother childless
POEM185/193
POEM 185SIGN OF LOVE A description of your hateAs you look at mewith the rude eyesbiting red lips in anger,but in your movementI see something hidden deep insideis this a sign of love _____ POEM 186DETACHING FROM YOU When I look upon that small green tattoo star of your foreheadyou should know oh my sweet friend..! I am like a thief
POEM195/203
POEM 195YOUR GODLINESS NOT YET REVEALED Whenever...my heart wishes to flymy hands like wingsbegin to fly... Like blowing airmoving them fasterhigher in the skyfly ..fly...fly the last of my will spentmy wings become stiff darkness covers my eyesI am stalled... Everything before me fadesdeprived of feelingsI become static in spaceSo I pray ...
POEM204/213
POEM 204THIEF FEELINGS So many timesI caught your eyesstealing glances... I witness the green tattoo on your chin but oh my friend...! I remained silent like thiefthough I had this longingto reveal these feelings of your love. _____POEM 205HUMAN DISTANCE Distance decreasingThe world is squeezed like a villageover populated Peo
