Translated from Balochi by Fazal Baloch
Karim Dashti (1939-1984) is a prominent Balochi poet. What sets Karim apart from other modern Balochi poets is his skeptical and somewhat nihilistic approach that are implied in his ghazals. Abruptnessis one of the main characteristics of his tone—hardly any Balochi poet employs such abruptness, especially when dealing with themes related to divinity. Most of Karim’s verses enshrine deep philosophical reflections on existence and are rich with emotional intensity. These ghazal-couplets1 have been taken from Dil Zareet Bolan published by Balochi Academy, Quetta, in 2009.
(1)
To the Lord’s throne
No grievances I ever bear,
For, never seek a Master
Who lends you no ear.
(2)
Of God’s fierce wrath
Every preacher warns me --
Would that there were some Gods
Who promised peace and harmony.
(3)
He commands—
All unfolds by His decree,
Then why must we carry
The weight of sins, endlessly?
(4)
They say all have a Master
In this vast domain,
Where is my Lord
For I’m bound in chains?
(5)
Behold, even in death,
Karim’s grandeur prevails.
Even in the depth of the grave,
His majesty never pales.
(6)
Forgive me, the tale was long indeed,
And I was eager to leave.
Had I known how the end would unfold,
For life, I’d not have endured such grief!
(7)
Life has tormented me, O Karim,
What the hell is this, after all?
If it’s love, let it unfold;
If it’s wrath, let it fall.
(8)
The houris, the wine, and the Tuba—
For none a thought I ever bear.
In a humble hut, I find my peace—
O, do not banish me from there.
(9)
With her each stride,
A lively melody unfolds,
Sangeen is God’s eternally melodious flute.
(10)
Deprived of your sight,
I left the world in grief.
Now don’t hurry to my grave with a trailing veil.
- The translation has not retained the couplet format. ↩︎
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 to Karim Dashti’s works.
.
PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL
Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles
Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International
Borderless 