Poem

Jameela Nishat

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A POEM SLUMBERS

A poem slumbers
in my heart,
at the centre of my being,
and a dim mirror
tries to shape it
a ghazal
a line
a word.

Day and night
it pulls me toward itself,
no music,
no sound,
even silence seems to intrude.
What poem is this
that sleeps in me
and does not let me sleep?

© Translation: 2000, Hoshang Merchant
From: Lava
Publisher: Jameela Nishat, Hyderabad, 2000

A POEM SLUMBERS

© 2000, Jameela Nishat
From: Lava
Publisher: Jameela Nishat, Hyderabad

Jameela Nishat

Jameela Nishat

Born in 1955, Hyderabad-based feminist and poet Jameela Nishat is a significant presence in contemporary Urdu literature. She started writing poetry at an early age and has published three collections of poetry. She holds a Masters degree in English Literature and a post graduate diploma in theatre arts. She taught English for twenty years and headed a school for disabled children. Deeply commi...

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A PYRE BURNT

A POEM SLUMBERS

WEARING A BURKHA

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A POEM SLUMBERS

A poem slumbers
in my heart,
at the centre of my being,
and a dim mirror
tries to shape it
a ghazal
a line
a word.

Day and night
it pulls me toward itself,
no music,
no sound,
even silence seems to intrude.
What poem is this
that sleeps in me
and does not let me sleep?

© 2000, Hoshang Merchant
From: Lava
Publisher: 2000, Jameela Nishat, Hyderabad

A POEM SLUMBERS

A poem slumbers
in my heart,
at the centre of my being,
and a dim mirror
tries to shape it
a ghazal
a line
a word.

Day and night
it pulls me toward itself,
no music,
no sound,
even silence seems to intrude.
What poem is this
that sleeps in me
and does not let me sleep?

© 2000, Hoshang Merchant
From: Lava
Publisher: 2000, Jameela Nishat, Hyderabad

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