Paris

I think this Poem must have been written looking at 2nd world war destruction of France
Salam,
Asghar Vasanwala

Paris

With dusk, lit up pale-faced lights
In endless rows along lanes & alleys
And from their beggar-bowl-shaped bulbs rained forth
The frustration of this crowded city
Far off, beyond the horizon’s panorama
The signposts of past grandeur, began to bedim
While right before the eye
A shadow, ceiling to wall’s shade
In the hope of a fellow shadow
Speechlessly to his wont
Holds his breath
The preface of time’s callousness
And a stranger
Dodging the lights and ghostly
Shadows
Bends back to his dreamless den

(Translation by Ikram Azam)

Paris (by Faiz Ahmed Faiz)

Din dhala kucha-o-bazar mein saf-basta hueeN
Zard zard roshniyaN

saf-basta=standing in a row Zard=yellow

In meiN har eik ke kiskol se barsiN, rim-jhim

Kishkol=begging bowl, kamandal

Is bhare shehr ki nasudagiyaN

Nasudgi=frustration

Door pas-e-manzar mein dhud-lane lage

Pas-e-manzar=behind the scene

Azmat-e-rafta ke nishaN

Azmat-e-rafta=past glory

Pesh Manzar meiN

Pesh Manzar=in front

Kisi saya-e-deevar se lipTa hua saya, koi
Doosre saye ki mohum si ummid liye

mohum=imagined, false

Roz-marrah ki tarh Zer-e-lab

zer-e-lab=concealed under lips, in heart

Sharh-e-be-dardi-e-ayyam ki tamheed liye

Sharh=explanation Be-dardi= cruelty, callousness tamheed=preface

Aur koi ajnabi
In roshniyoN, sayoN se katrata hua
Apne beKhwab shabistaN ki taraf jata hua

shabistaN =place for spending night, bedroom

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