Comments on: Prison Lyrics

By: Nostalgic

Nostalgic — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:04:27 +0000

I can’t speak for Sepoy or rd, Jennifer, but a good book for translations of Faiz’s poetry (plus an introduction to Faiz and his poetry) is by Victor Kiernan, although I can’t recall the name…

By: Jennifer Salima

Jennifer Salima — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:36:37 +0000

Thank you for these lovely poems, both the one you translated and the one added under the first comment (“Why grieve if paper and pen have been snatched away…”). I am writing a book about my volunteer work leading grief and loss groups for women prisoners, and would like to include these quotes in the book, but can’t find information on the publisher of the book. Also, is the one above from the same book? If not, do you have the info for this book? Thanks for any help.
Peace, Jen Salima

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 21:00:18 +0000

only belatedly am I thanking you for the Genoways link, and for sending me back to ‘The Silent Ones’–to be reread today, especially.

By: sepoy

sepoy — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:25:01 +0000

szerelem: thanks!

By: Szerelem

Szerelem — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:51:38 +0000

Sepoy, I always enjoy your Faiz translations – thank you for this one.

By: rd

rd — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:59:07 +0000

Mataa-e lauh-o qalam chhin gayi to kya gham hai
Ke khoon-e dil meiñ duboli hai ungliyaañ maiñ ne
Zabaañ pe mohr lagi hai to kya, ke rakh di hai
Har ek halqa-e zanjeer meiñ zabaañ maiñ ne

Why grieve if paper and pen have been snatched away
For I have dipped my fingers in the blood of my heart
So what if my own speech has been fettered; I have placed
A tongue in the mouth of every link of the chain that binds me
– Faiz Ahmad Faiz

Hai dasht ab bhi dasht, magar khoon-e pa se Faiz
Seraab chand khaar-e mugheelaañ hue to haiñ

The desolate desert we walked through still remains desolate, Faiz
But at least the thirst of some of its thorns has been quenched by the blood of our feet
– Faiz Ahmed Faiz