Translated by Fazal Baloch
ROLL UP NOT THE MAT
Death is a state
That leaves grief in its wake,
Tearing souls from their loved ones.
In the sieve of this moment,
We must not divide “ours” from “others.”
We are dwellers of the jungle.
For nature’s tidings—
Be it the heart or the hut—
We must not roll up the mat.
Before me came my father,
And before him, my grandfather—
Weavers of sacred customs.
We have taken every shade of the jungle,
Draped ourselves in its colours.
The jungle has its customs:
Nurture envy and hatred
As tenderly as you nurture love.
Never to strike a hungry foe.
You, a soldier from the enemy’s ranks,
Who come to slay my people—
Eat your fill before you go,
For hunger lies ahead.
Do you see these towering peaks,
These treacherous ravines?
My sons, brave as lions,
Know them better than you ever will.
They wait for you,
Hidden in the trenches.
The jungle may show you no way out.
My brothers, fierce as tigers,
Have mastered the craft of survival.
We are dwellers of the jungle.
And you, a soldier from the enemy’s ranks,
Have come to our land
Sit. Eat. Leave with a full stomach.
For in the jungle, it is custom
Never to strike a hungry foe.
I will not let blood
Stain the sanctity of my tradition.
Whether in war or peace,
For nature’s tidings—
Be it the heart or the hut—
We must not roll up the mat.
Ali Jan Dad is a prominent figure in contemporary Balochi literature. He wields equal command over both the genres of ghazal and nazm. Primarily, he is a poet of love and romance, and his poetry is imbued with a melodious and lyrical finesse. Additionally, he addresses the objective issues of life and the complexities of human existence in a highly artistic manner. So far, two collections of his poetry—Dróháp (The Mirage, 2009) and Róchay Sáheg (The Sun-Shade, 2013) have been published. The translated poem has been taken from his website Kodacha.com and is presented here with his permission.
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. Fazal Baloch has the translation rights of of this poem from the poet.
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