Najam Hussain Syed
(translated from Punjabi by Irfan Malik and Jennifer Barber)
KhialThere have always been
sparrows, and will always be.
After the eagles' and hawks'
threatening bodies have taken
their assigned corners in museums
and the peacock's magic
is a handful of feathers
in an empty tomb,
the sparrows will remain.
They'll descend from the trees
branch by branch, gathering
like the girls of simple ways
who, with their laughter,
say whatever they please.
From a Poem by MIAN IJAZ UL HASSAN
Silken lies howso'ver uncouth
Are always more endearing than truth
to speak one's mind is like from the hind
You would let out in company an audible sound,
Truth is like a wart on a painted face
A fly in the ointment
Lipstick on the collar
A dog without a leash.
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