Ralph Russell 
Translator

on Lyrikline: 1 poems translated

from: urdu to: inglés

Original

Translation

غزل

urdu | Iftikhar Arif

© Iftikhar Arif
from: The Twelfth Man
Karachi: Maktaba-E-Danyal, 2006
Audio production: 2006, M. Mechner / Literaturwerkstatt

Ghazal

inglés

We set our sights on living, and on that alone.
No frenzy - no, no madness must perturb us now.

We'll put no lamp to flicker in the open street
Even the breeze is pledged to side with darkness now

Make sure that no word reaches where it ought to reach
This is a skill the skilful need to practice now.

Loyalty is a myth, and we no longer need
To look for loyal comrades on our journey now.

We homeless wanderers who go from door to door
Find nowhere to lay down our heavy burden now.

We too are much concerned to live a life of ease
Count us with those whom nobody may count on now.

Translated by Ralph Russell