Photograph From September 11by Wisława Szymborska In Hindi/Urdu Translation Poem by Ravi Kopra

Jalti manzil se
unoN ne cHalaangay lagaani shuru ker deeN
ek, do, fir kuch aur
oopar, neechay


Photograph ne unaiN ruka liya zindgi main
aur ab vo un ko rakh rehi hai
bhoomi k oopar bhoomi ki tarf aatay huay

Har ek cheray k saath poora tha
har ek ka khoon cHupa hua tha

Waqt kaafi tha
jab un k baal bikhar gaey
un ki chaabiaN aur sikkay
un ki jeb se nikal gaey

Vo ab hawaa main hain
jagah ki hud main hai
jo ab vo un ki hai

Main un k liyay sirf
do cheezaiN kar sakti hoon -
un ki uDan ko likhooN
magar aakhri line na likhooN


- -


Photograph from September 11
BY WISŁAWA SZYMBORSKA
TRANSLATED from Polish BY CLARE CAVANAGH

They jumped from the burning floors—
one, two, a few more,
higher, lower.

The photograph halted them in life,
and now keeps them
above the earth toward the earth.

Each is still complete,
with a particular face
and blood well hidden.

There's enough time
for hair to come loose,
for keys and coins
to fall from pockets.

They're still within the air's reach,
within the compass of places
that have just now opened.

I can do only two things for them—
describe this flight
and not add a last line.