I Shall Not Turn Away Poem by Tawfeeq Hasan Khan

I know that, verily I am much afraid,
As I am turning from what have I said...

I have to remain here, as I can't lie,
That 'I will stay here forever till I die...'

I have been eating the food that grows here,
Then how can I leave it alone at times of dispair?

Where I took birth, verily it is that piece of land,
Then how can I ever think of leaving its hand?

Giving blood in return of years spent in living,
Is much less as not cursing then forgiving...

As to taste the dust is better than cowardice,
As in fleeing away, our defeat is that of twice.

As losing souls is better than losing that land,
Which has once given us a place to stand...