Earthquake Poem by Muhammad Shanazar

The Earth moves on as Her wont is,
Wearing the chain of moments,
She has been going on sliding gliding
For several centuries,
The lava concealed into Her chest
Made her perturbed,
She has to hide the surge of molten magma
Scattered in Her sinews,
For she has no confidant for centuries,
No one knows since when
Mountains have been riveted into Her chest,
In the wilderness of aloofness,
The grains of wafting sand pierce Her eyes,
She has dry forehead, and the remaining
Countenance has been submerged since beginning,
In the brackish seas of tears,
When She heaves a sigh Her body tremours
For a few moments, else She goes on moving
By pressing between teeth Her tongue,
Carrying the load of centuries and bygone times.

Written by Shazia Akbar
Translated by Muhammad Shanazar