The Garden Of Bright Waters | Page 3

kings are laughing and the slaves are laughing; but for your sake Sayyid Ahmad is walking and mourning very quietly.
_From the Pus'hto (Afghans, nineteenth century)._
GHAZAL, IN LAMENT FOR THE DEAD, OF PIR MUHAMMAD
The season of parting has come up with the wind;?My girl has hollowed my heart with the hot iron of separation.
Keep away, doctor, your roots and your knives are useless.?None ever cured the ills of the ill of separation.
There is no one near me noble enough to be told;?I tear my collar in the "Alas! Alas!" of separation.
She was a branch of santal; she closed her eyes and left me. Autumn has come and she has gone, broken to pieces in the wind of
separation.
I am Pir Muhammad and I am stumbling away to die;?She stamped on my eyes with the foot of separation.
_From the Pus'hto (Afghans, nineteenth century)._
BALLADE OF NURSHALI
Come in haste this dusk, dear child. I will be on the water path When your girl friends go laughing by the road.?"Come in haste this dusk; I have become your nightingale,?And the young girls leave me alone because of you.?I give you the poppy of my mouth and my fallen hair."?Come in haste this dusk, dear child.
"I have dishevelled and spread out my hair for you;?Take my wrist, for there is no shame?And my father has gone out.?Sit near me on this red bed quietly."?Come in haste this dusk, dear child.
"Sit near me on this red bed, I lift the poppy to your lips; Your hand is strong upon my breast;?My beauty is a garden and you the bird in the flowering tree." Come in haste this dusk, dear child.
"My beauty is a garden with crimson flowers."?But I cannot reach over the thicket of your hair.?This is Nurshali sighing for the garden;?Come in haste this dusk, dear child.
_From the Pus'hto (Afghans)._
GHAZAL OF MUHAMMAD DIN TILAI
The world is fainting,?And you will weep at last.
The world is fainting?And falling into a swoon.
The world is turning and changing;?The world is fainting,?And you will weep at last.
Look at the love of Farhad, who pierced a mountain?And pierced a brass hill for the love of Shirin.?The world is fainting,?And you will weep at last.
Qutab Khan of the Ranizais was in love?And death became the hostess of his lady.?The world is fainting,?And you will weep at last.
Adam loved Durkho, and they were separated.?You know the story;?There is no lasting love.?The world is fainting,?And you will weep at last.
Muhammad Din is ill for the matter of a little honey;?This is a moment to be generous.?The world is fainting,?And you will weep at last.
_From the Pus'hto (Afghans, nineteenth century)._
MICRA
When you lie with me and love me,?You give me a second life of young gold;?And when you lie with me and love me not,?I am as one who puts out hands in the dark?And touches cold wet death.
_From the Pus'hto of Mirza Rahchan Kayil (Afghans, nineteenth century)._
BALLADE OF MUHAMMAD DIN TILAI
A twist of fresh flowers on your dark hair,?And your hair is a panther's shadow.?On your white cheeks the down of a thousand roses,?They speak about your beauty in Lahore.?You have your mother's lips;?Your ring is frosted with rubies,?And your hair is a panther's shadow.
Your ring is frosted with rubies;?I was unhappy and you looked over the wall,?I saw your face among the crimson lilies;?There is no armour that a lover can buy,?And your hair is a panther's shadow.
"The cool fingers of the mistress burn her lovers?And they go away.?I have fatigued the wise of many lands,?And my hair is a tangle of serpents.?What is the profit of these shawls without you??And my hair is a panther's shadow."
"A squadron of my father's men are about me,?And I have woven a collar of yellow flowers.?My eyes are veiled because I drink cups of bhang,?Being a daughter of the daughter of queens.?You cannot touch me because of my palaces,?And my hair is a panther's shadow."
I will touch you, though your beauty be as fair as song;?For I am a disciple of Abdel Qadir Gilani,?And my songs are as beautiful as women and as strong as love; And your hair is a panther's shadow.
Your ring is frosted with rubies....?Muhammad Din awaits the parting of your scarves;?Tilai is standing here, young and magnificent like a tree; And your hair is a panther's shadow.
_From the Pus'hto (Afghans, nineteenth century)._
GHAZAL OF MIRA
The lover to his lass: I have fallen before your door.?I came to ask for alms and have lost my all,?I had a copper-shod quarter-staff but the dogs attacked me, And not a strand of her hair came the way of my lips.?The lover to his lass: I have fallen before your door.
The lamp burns and I must play the green moth.?I have stolen her scented rope of flowers,?But the women caught me and built a little gaol?About my heart with your