yaadain
wo kachi dewaar jis se lipet ker roya kertay thay
wo perd jin ke chawoon mai din ber soyaa kertay thay
yaad ati hain wo gaoon kee tang galiyaan,
wo serson ke khaet
wo baaghon mai khilti kaliyaan
wo gerdon ka thanda pani jo piya kertay thay
wo azad hawa jis mai mast ho ker jiya kertay thay
yaad aty hain wo amm ke drahet
wo tandoore ke roti
wo tapti doohp sahet
wo raet ke graonday jo buna ker torda kertay thay
wo gaher galian jo khabi na chorda kertay thay
yaad ati hain wo kholi bahain
wo sir per haat
wo rustay per negahain
wo pakey hogee dewaar jis se lipet ker roya kertay thay
wo cut gay perd jin kee chawoon mai soyaa kertay thay
yaad ati hain ab tu sub yadain
wo judai kee pel
wo milne ke fiyadain
wo chel basay achel jin mai chup ker zamane ke shikway sunai kertay thay
wo milti nahi hai goohd jis mai thak ker sir ko jhukai kertay thay.
Memories
The mud wall I used to wrap my arms around and cry
The huge green tree and under its shadow I used to lie
I remember the tight streets of my village
The dancing mustard fields
And the blossoming of flowers in my valley
The cold water I used to drink from our mud coolers
The independent air I used to walk freely in
I remember the large mango trees,
Chapatti’s baked in clay oven fresh to eat
And never did I use to feel that day long burning heat
The sand castles I used to make and break
A home I could never dare to leave
I remember the open arms of my loved ones
An older hand on my head which gave me blessing and security
And the longing eyes that would wait for me always
Now the mud walls are all concrete
the roots of many trees have been cut off and there are no longer the protecting shadows I use to lye beneath.
Now I cherish all the memories
The moments of separation and pleas of reunion
I have no longer the older hands of security on my head as they have passed on with time
I can no longer find that comforting lap I would put my head on and escape from the sorrows of my life.
translation of 'yaddain' from the Urdu by Shamylla Syed
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