Translated from Balochi by Fazal Baloch
YOU AND I The flames of our existence cannot scorch us. At times a patch of cloud sails overhead (we are all dead forests) in a dead forest when ecstasy strikes the heart of a forlorn tree. Where can it go? How far can a tree move, after all? We haven't seen our face yet. We haven't found our homes yet. All roads and trails burnt to ashes before our eyes. All homes and abodes reflected in the false glow of a mirror, disappeared into haze and dust… The wind asked me, where have the clouds vanished for kites have invaded the sky? We can't hear the whispers of doves nestled within us. All hail to us! For we didn't die of our own thirst. Tomorrow, when we are gone to the bottom of many vessels, our agony will settle. After all it's not the agony that shaped our solitude. We, who couldn't die of our own thirst, wonder how come this grief makes us perish? Once we are gone, the wind might not whisper with our wounds, the rain might not cleanse the naked body of our solitude. The fire of our own existence will not scorch us!
Munir Momin is a contemporary Balochi poet widely cherished for his sublime art of poetry. Meticulously crafted images, linguistic finesse and profound aesthetic sense have earned him a distinguished place in Balochi literature. His poetry speaks through images, more than words. Momin’s poetry flows far beyond the reach of any ideology or socio-political movement. Nevertheless, he is not ignorant of the stark realities of life. The immenseness of his imagination and his mastery over the language rescues his poetry from becoming the part of any mundane narrative. So far Munir has published seven collections of his poetry and an anthology of short stories. His poetry has been translated into Urdu, English and Persian. He also edits a literary journal called Gidár.
Fazal Baloch is a Balochi writer and translator. He has translated many Balochi poems and short stories into English. His translations have been featured in Pakistani Literature published by Pakistan Academy of Letters and in the form of books and anthologies.
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