Qamar Farid

The Door Was Open

The chest was pounded suddenly with a sound
Who is there knocking at door at that night?
Just one step up
One hand came up and touched my shoulder—
Be careful son! So many things happening around, I heard!’

I asked, who is there?
I am. There was reply from other side.
Again, I asked, who?
I am a messenger, he replied.
I asked, in that dead night?
Open the door, he requested from the other side.

Nothing else was there except the sound of the wall clock,
Everything was in the belly of python.
The doorbell rang again.
Mother asked, who is that?
I am a carrier, he replied.
Mother suggested, wait until morning!
He said, no.
I replied, you should!

No one was able to sleep
Not the servant or relatives, me or any guest of this house.
Everyone chased ghost whole night.

So many lights all over the area
Were burned together.

It is the morning and the door will be opened.
Everyone is at the door leaving behind the night.
The door was opened…
Mother uttered, oh. No!

There was a magpie robin laying on the white floor
And there was a blood-colored rose on his chest.

The announcement from the Pion’s voice came out in air—
‘Some one was dead in the dawn who loved the soil
If you can may join the funeral…
And cover his whole body with soil,
Whose life was snatched by eagle?’

Tied with the edge of garment of her chest,
My mother pulled the dead body of the magpie robin
And laid him in the grave digging in the courtyard of the house
Under the shadow of the soil

After that so many years has been passed
Only the people of this house were burned holding the incense-stick on their chests.

The door was open…
Till now the door is open…
No one has ever shut the door.

Translated by Tuwa Noor

Human Nature

You will find wetlands in one side
And draught with horrid monster on the contrary
If you dissect all the people of the world
With a sharp saw.

If you slice the tree with a sharp saw into two
On one side is the happiness of life
Blood stains on the reverse.

If you divide the heart of earth with a sharp saw
You will find nothing except cyclones around,
And infinite destruction of desert.

Translated by Tuwa Noor

************************