So lunatic and unwise are the mothers!

Poetry: Rehmat Shah Sayal

(Translation, Pashto text given at the end)

Grooming their youth for the land of others, 

So lunatic and unwise are the mothers!

Part ways with their very source of delight,

Send their offspring to the land of others,

Sleep thirsty eyes are forsaken,

 But send their flowers to the orchards of others,

Grow their Lilies with tender to blossom on the thorns of others,

So lunatic and unwise are the mothers!

Somewhere Ghantol and Redey they grow,

Elsewhere Rambel and Chambel are grown,

Here and there Gulab and Sheshtey they grow,

Over places Lawang and Amel[1] are grown,

They keep growing spring red flowers for the villas of others,

So lunatic and unwise are the mothers!

Barely has he touched the age,

Will owe, but sure to go out,

Yet unaware of his own street,

But ready to journey foreign land,

Grow their sweets fairies for the miseries stricken Kohi Kaf[2] of others,

So lunatic and unwise are the mothers!

O Sayal tears are sent to hot sands!

To red hot deserts the very bloods of hearts!

To ugly mountains the eyelashes of beloved eyes!

To the dreams of sand deserts the love of hearts!

Futile the exercise is but they grow their cutes for others,

So lunatic and unwise are the mothers!

The author can be reached at muhammadrome@gmail.com
Can be followed via Twitter: @muhammadrome

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[1] The words in Italic are the names of flowers, symbolizing love and beauty. These flowers’ names are also very common male generic names in the Pashtun’s society.

[2] A mythical mountain in Pashto literature, supposed as the abode of fairies. 

مېندې لېونۍ دي نادانې دي

 چې کښېني نورو وطنونو له ځلمي لويوي
مېندې لېونۍ دي نادانې دي

د خپلو شونډو مسکېتوب شوکوي،
د زړۀ ټوټې پردي وطن ته لېږي
د شوګيرو سترګو نه خوب شوکوي
خپل ګلبدن پردي ګلشن ته لېږي
پردو ازغو له په نازونو ګلالي لويوي
مېندې لېونۍ دي نادانې دي

چرته غانټول، چرته رېدے لويوي
چرته رامبېل، چرته چامبېل ځلمے
چرته ګلاب چرته شيشتے لويوي
چرته لونګ، چرته امېل ځلمے
پردو بنګلو له سرۀ ګلونه د سپرلي لويوي
مېندې لېونۍ دي نادانې دي

لا به یې شونډه پوره شنه هم نۀ وي
بهر به ځي په قرض پور به ځي
لا پېژندلې یې کوڅه هم نۀ وي
خو د پردي وطن په لور به ځي
پردي زړۀ چاؤدي کوه قاف له ښاپېري لويوي
مېندې لېونۍ دي نادانې دي

سائله! سرو شګو له اوښکې لېږي
لمبه، لمبه دشتو له وينې د زړۀ
بدرنګه غرونو له لېمۀ د سترګو
د رېګزارونو خوب له مينې د زړۀ
د پردو ځاڼو د پښو شور له کټوري لويوي
مېندې لېونۍ دي نادانې دي