Sara Shagufta
tujhe jab bhi koi dukh de
is dukh ka naam beti rakhna
jab mere safed baal
tere galon pe aan hansen ro lena
mere khvab ke dukh pe so lena
jin kheton ko abhi ugna hai
in kheton men
main dekhti huun teri angiya bhi
For Sheli, My daughter
bas pahli baar dari beti
main kitni baar dari beti
abhi pedon men chhupe tere kaman hain beti
mera janm to hai beti
aur tera janm teri beti
Whenever anyone causes you sorrow,
name that sorrow-daughter.
When my white hair
falls over your cheeks
and laughs at you,
cry.
Sleep on the sorrow of my dream.
there are fields that have yet to grow–
in those fields
I see
your underthings too.
Well, I fear
for the first time, daughter
how many times
did I know fear, daughter
right now among the trees lurk
arrows for you, daughter
You are my birth, daughter
and your birth—your daughter.
In my longing to bathe you
my fingers oozed blood.
tujhe nahlane ki khvahish men
meri poren khuun thokti hain
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