An Elegy Poem by Muhammad Shanazar

(Attributed to Faiz Ahmed Faiz)

O! Faiz, my reverend poet,
What have you done,
While departing to the world of eternity,
You chose nothing
But an unstitched costume.

We were there
And our eyes too were kneaded in tears,
We were there
Our breaths too were fastened with the sighs,
We were there
Our lamenting lips were overspread
With yellowness of the bloomed mustard.

In the mournful hearts
There were several seasons,
Reflecting in the grieved mirrors,
But you chose nothing except a candle of condolence.
Now tell me
Lamenting remains that have left behind
Whose eyes will gather?
Whose lashes will compose?


Written by Ayub Khawar
Translated by Muhammad Shanazar