‘do You Frighten Me With Fire’ Poem by Sadiqullah Khan

‘do you frighten me with fire, I know it is fire’
‘so let me alone’,

Thereupon she joined her hands above
Her head in salutation to the fire
And cast herself into it.

Midst bugles
To meet her late husband
Anointed by the Brahmans.

While going to the pyre,
She had a mirror in one hand
Looking at herself,
And a coconut playing with.

There was a loud clamor
Drums and trumpets
Cries and shouts.

Heavy wood was placed on top
Of her,
To prevent her from moving.

‘When I saw this, I had fallen off
My horse, if my companions had not quickly
Brought water to me
And laved my face, after which I withdrew.’
Qouth Ibn Batuta

And I withdrew from his travel
To jot it down,
Drinking a glass of water.

Sadiqullah Khan
Gilgit
June 6,2014.