Trans-creation, from original in Urdu, of one of my mother, Sajida Zaidi's poems, titled: "Kab Say Mehv-e-Safar Ho"


The Eternal Journey

The Eternal Journey

Sajida!
With so many eras of roving in you
How long will you journey,
How long will you wander in this wilderness
and dance in frenzy, with these hurricanes ?

In how many deserts have you blistered your feet,
How many wakeful nights have you spent in longing?

Sajida, Say something!
How many nights of separation
Did you drown in tears?
How did you pay back the debt of passion?
What struggles your restless heart,
soul and body went through?
How did your soul fight the turmoil of agony?

How in the face of terrible whirlwinds
Did you salvage your honour?
How did you, in face of yawning, freezing loneliness,
Celebrate the carnival of life?
How did you melt in the fire of passion,
To find your voice?
How did you find the glory of God
In dun darkness of wakeful nights,
How many times did you bow your head
in the prayers of His Might?

Sajida!
How long have you been travelling the path of pain?
How many flowers of your eloquence have bloomed,
In the barren deserts of life?
How many lamps of longing did you burn,
In this darkness of desire in the night?

Sajida!
In this endeavour, did you ever
Improve the face of life?
Did you light a lamp of hope in any heart?
Did you change the rhythm of life?
Did to turn desert sands in to gold?
How many wounds of mankind did you heal?
Ever turned any tale of injustice into sweet melody?

Sajida!
It is the eve of life,
Sleep, you are exhausted, forget all hullaballoo!
Beyond the burning desert, for miles together
Are the footsteps of timelessness
Seasons are changing colours
You are no Messiah!
Sleep, the sleep of exhaustion!
Forget the dance of passion...



Transcreation of original of Sajida Zaidi's poem
by Author: Zoya Zaidi
Aligarh, UP, India
Copyright ©: Zoya Zaidi
8th April 2011, 7-45 PM
Completed on the 15th April 2011, 3PM
Trans-creation from original Urdu of Sajida Zaidi's poem "Kab Say Mehv-e-Safar HuN"
Photo: Pic. of my Mom, aged 30 or so...



Poetry by Zoya Zaidi
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Written on 2011-06-06 at 10:17

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Muhammed Nasiruddin Arif
Very inspiring poem! so beautiful!

This is really first time, I have read Hon'ble Sajida Zaidi and you! Great poets, thinkers and philosophers!

I am so impressed! May God bless you both in all you need! Amen!!!

Warmest Regards....
2011-06-15


Zoya Zaidi
Thanks everyone for the appreciation, I have tried to capture the spirit of the original in Urdu, which off course is exquisite!
Thanks Editorial team for the recognition!
Love,
Zoya
2011-06-11



This is beautiful Zoya.
Thank you for sharing with us.
2011-06-08


Editorial Team The PoetBay support member heart!
This text has been chosen to be featured on the front page of PoetBay. Thank you for posting it on our poetry web site.
2011-06-07


workoutrules
beautiful words written...we all ask ourselves in questions,its a gift to reconize our faults and achievements in life..In life their will always be unanswered questions..Desire creates power within us all,I believe,,,,Lovely to see you sweetfriend

Cyndi
2011-06-06


countryfog
Beautiful, even in translation. Your mother's shining spirit is reflected in the stunningly honest questions she asked of herself, the answers that perhaps only she knew. "How did you pay back the debt of passion?" is especially one I'll not soon forget, one I too have struggled to answer.
2011-06-06