Sahir Ludhianvi (1921-1980) "Twofold World”, p.462, translated from the Hindi-Urdu by Manfred Spencer Alverston & Associates.
This world is duplicitous, dyed twofold
On one hand, it is draped in silk
But naked and bare.
On one hand, the price of body is cheaper than bread
Clod of earth, but fourfold gold:
Reddish, yellowish, greenish, and whitish.
This world is duplicitous, dyed twofold
One half-face showered with splendor
One half-face pierced with lancet
Half of the body is covered with sores from Hansen’s disease
Half of the body is covered in diamonds.
One-half of the home is prosperous
One-half of the home is impoverished.
This world is duplicitous, dyed twofold
Adorning foreheads with crowns on one hand
But transporting baskets of filth atop their heads.
Pleading for alms with the right hand
Begging for charity with the other hand.
Running free meal mess halls on one hand
But begging for alms with the other.
This world is double-dealing, dyed twofold.
As a concourse of humanness, we must not have to brook
These streams of pain… and pleasure as well.
As humanity, the division of capital must be redone anew.
As long as there are class divisions,
Higher and lower standings with a diminishing middle ground,
Every sheathing will remain misshapen.
This world is two-faced, dyed twofold
On one hand, it is draped in silk
But naked and bare as well.
Sahir Ludhianvi (1921-1980) "Twofold World”, p.462, translated from the Hindi-Urdu by Manfred Spencer Alverston & Associates.
No comments:
Post a Comment