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Emotions and Feelings

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Coward

Coward


I know,
Why you do not look back
You have left your abode
For the temple of God
To while away the time
With the dolls.


And to flitter the self away
Oh dear,
Not knowing that playing with heart:
Leads up to endless tears.


So great is the debt
When the eyes meet, |
And the moments smack.
I know,
Why you do not look back.


I know,
Why you do not look back.
When the eyes get lost In the eyes.
And the word slowly dies..


When you are all alone.
In the sanctum of your home
There is collyrium In your bright eyes
And not the tears.
No deceit rings
In the anklets you wear.


As you walk,
I know,
Why you do hot look back
I know,
Why you do not look back,
When no creepers
On your feet roll
As you stroll,
In the wilderness.
You plucked flowers
In sheer absent mindness,
Without hurting your fingers.


Not knowing the truth either
That, with the garlands
The heart also withers.
Not knowing that
Behind a scurrilous mouth,
A loneliness lurks.
I know,
Why you do not look back.



I am conscious
Of your deceitfulness and skill
But you never knew, indeed
That on your cheeks,
There is a hue
Of pomegranate seeds.


Never knew that,
The timid hearts of women,
Like a creeper laden with a bee,
For those untold words and the denials
Shiver in agony.


And as much as the eye wails
The modesty prevails;
I know you coward,
Why your own image
That you unwittingly fear.


Of man, you have known,
And he is a stone
To whom you never bowed.
You have desired
A pair of covetous hands
And bowed to touch the feet,
Not knowing though
A heart becomes a touch-stone
With another touch on it.
I know coward
Why you wander.


I know what is your fear
When the desires of the heart
In the two shores of body whisper.


The fragrance of
A blooming heart
The petals can never thwart.
However much you wish to hide,
It breaks far and wide.


All the secret words
Have gathered in you dear
I know what is your fear.


I know,
Why you cannot say openly:
The nightingale has carried
The message secretly.


The words you wanted to hear,
How did she know of it, oh dear?



The same words
The bride murmured
Gently raising her eyes:
Who knew that in her cruel fingers
Such magic lies.
I know,
Why you cannot say openly.


I know,
Why no ornaments you wear
The flame of agony
Has burnt your flesh Into gold oh dear!
To adorn a doll
Of clay with attire?
Why should gold
Mere gold desire?


Leaving the shores of the body
The mind seeks purity.
The agony of mine, oh dear.
Now adorns your beauty
I know,
Why no ornament you wear.


I know
They will not abide;
The maiden
Who slept in the night
Woke up as a bride.


She swims with the foam
Not really knowing
The oyster's home.
The pearl you have found


But the shell of the eyes
In the tears got drowned
When the burden
Is too heavy to bear,
The heart also sinks
In utter despair.
Oh unlucky woman!
How shall you make it clear?


[Original: Bhiru; Translation: Syed Mujibul Huq]
669
Kazi Nazrul Islam

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Coward

Coward


I know,
Why you do not look back
You have left your abode
For the temple of God
To while away the time
With the dolls.


And to flitter the self away
Oh dear,
Not knowing that playing with heart:
Leads up to endless tears.


So great is the debt
When the eyes meet, |
And the moments smack.
I know,
Why you do not look back.


I know,
Why you do not look back.
When the eyes get lost In the eyes.
And the word slowly dies..


When you are all alone.
In the sanctum of your home
There is collyrium In your bright eyes
And not the tears.
No deceit rings
In the anklets you wear.


As you walk,
I know,
Why you do hot look back
I know,
Why you do not look back,
When no creepers
On your feet roll
As you stroll,
In the wilderness.
You plucked flowers
In sheer absent mindness,
Without hurting your fingers.


Not knowing the truth either
That, with the garlands
The heart also withers.
Not knowing that
Behind a scurrilous mouth,
A loneliness lurks.
I know,
Why you do not look back.



I am conscious
Of your deceitfulness and skill
But you never knew, indeed
That on your cheeks,
There is a hue
Of pomegranate seeds.


Never knew that,
The timid hearts of women,
Like a creeper laden with a bee,
For those untold words and the denials
Shiver in agony.


And as much as the eye wails
The modesty prevails;
I know you coward,
Why your own image
That you unwittingly fear.


Of man, you have known,
And he is a stone
To whom you never bowed.
You have desired
A pair of covetous hands
And bowed to touch the feet,
Not knowing though
A heart becomes a touch-stone
With another touch on it.
I know coward
Why you wander.


I know what is your fear
When the desires of the heart
In the two shores of body whisper.


The fragrance of
A blooming heart
The petals can never thwart.
However much you wish to hide,
It breaks far and wide.


All the secret words
Have gathered in you dear
I know what is your fear.


I know,
Why you cannot say openly:
The nightingale has carried
The message secretly.


The words you wanted to hear,
How did she know of it, oh dear?



The same words
The bride murmured
Gently raising her eyes:
Who knew that in her cruel fingers
Such magic lies.
I know,
Why you cannot say openly.


I know,
Why no ornaments you wear
The flame of agony
Has burnt your flesh Into gold oh dear!
To adorn a doll
Of clay with attire?
Why should gold
Mere gold desire?


Leaving the shores of the body
The mind seeks purity.
The agony of mine, oh dear.
Now adorns your beauty
I know,
Why no ornament you wear.


I know
They will not abide;
The maiden
Who slept in the night
Woke up as a bride.


She swims with the foam
Not really knowing
The oyster's home.
The pearl you have found


But the shell of the eyes
In the tears got drowned
When the burden
Is too heavy to bear,
The heart also sinks
In utter despair.
Oh unlucky woman!
How shall you make it clear?


[Original: Bhiru; Translation: Syed Mujibul Huq]
669
Kazi Nazrul Islam

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Coward

Coward


I know,
Why you do not look back
You have left your abode
For the temple of God
To while away the time
With the dolls.


And to flitter the self away
Oh dear,
Not knowing that playing with heart:
Leads up to endless tears.


So great is the debt
When the eyes meet, |
And the moments smack.
I know,
Why you do not look back.


I know,
Why you do not look back.
When the eyes get lost In the eyes.
And the word slowly dies..


When you are all alone.
In the sanctum of your home
There is collyrium In your bright eyes
And not the tears.
No deceit rings
In the anklets you wear.


As you walk,
I know,
Why you do hot look back
I know,
Why you do not look back,
When no creepers
On your feet roll
As you stroll,
In the wilderness.
You plucked flowers
In sheer absent mindness,
Without hurting your fingers.


Not knowing the truth either
That, with the garlands
The heart also withers.
Not knowing that
Behind a scurrilous mouth,
A loneliness lurks.
I know,
Why you do not look back.



I am conscious
Of your deceitfulness and skill
But you never knew, indeed
That on your cheeks,
There is a hue
Of pomegranate seeds.


Never knew that,
The timid hearts of women,
Like a creeper laden with a bee,
For those untold words and the denials
Shiver in agony.


And as much as the eye wails
The modesty prevails;
I know you coward,
Why your own image
That you unwittingly fear.


Of man, you have known,
And he is a stone
To whom you never bowed.
You have desired
A pair of covetous hands
And bowed to touch the feet,
Not knowing though
A heart becomes a touch-stone
With another touch on it.
I know coward
Why you wander.


I know what is your fear
When the desires of the heart
In the two shores of body whisper.


The fragrance of
A blooming heart
The petals can never thwart.
However much you wish to hide,
It breaks far and wide.


All the secret words
Have gathered in you dear
I know what is your fear.


I know,
Why you cannot say openly:
The nightingale has carried
The message secretly.


The words you wanted to hear,
How did she know of it, oh dear?



The same words
The bride murmured
Gently raising her eyes:
Who knew that in her cruel fingers
Such magic lies.
I know,
Why you cannot say openly.


I know,
Why no ornaments you wear
The flame of agony
Has burnt your flesh Into gold oh dear!
To adorn a doll
Of clay with attire?
Why should gold
Mere gold desire?


Leaving the shores of the body
The mind seeks purity.
The agony of mine, oh dear.
Now adorns your beauty
I know,
Why no ornament you wear.


I know
They will not abide;
The maiden
Who slept in the night
Woke up as a bride.


She swims with the foam
Not really knowing
The oyster's home.
The pearl you have found


But the shell of the eyes
In the tears got drowned
When the burden
Is too heavy to bear,
The heart also sinks
In utter despair.
Oh unlucky woman!
How shall you make it clear?


[Original: Bhiru; Translation: Syed Mujibul Huq]
669
Kazi Nazrul Islam

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Beware My Captain

Beware My Captain

You have to cross the darkness of the night
A desert vast and a hill of great height,
And an ocean, fathomless and dark.
Travellers, beware and look sharp.


The boat is trembling,
The water is swelling,
The sail is torn asunder,
And the boatman is losing his way,
Who will sit at the helm at this hour?
Who has the courage and the power?
The future calls your,
Come forward, all who are bold and true.


The night is dark, the storm is great,
You must look sharp, there is no time to hesitate.
You must make haste or it would be too late
To ferry the boat across the other side.
The night is dark, Be your own guard.
your, soldiers of the country,
Age old grievances have declared a fight,
The deprived heart is demanding its right.
You must take them along, the poor and the weak,
You must make them strong, no longer mild and meek


You must lead them to victory.
O Captain, my captain,
The helpless nation is going under water,
It does not know how to swim.
I shall watch tonight
Your determination, grim yet bright,
To free the country from slavery.
'Are they Hindus or Muslims? '
Who ask this question, I say.
Tell him, my Captain,
The children of the motherland are drowning today.


Doubts assail the mind of the travelers still,
There is thunder in the sky and danger over the hill.
Captain, will you lose the way
And leave us in the lurch?
You must not waver or sway,
You must carry on the march.


Those who sang the victory of life
With the nose of the gallows round their neck
Come and gather round quietly today.
What price do you pay for that, friends,
What sacrifice do you make?
It is a test, dear Captain,
Do you save the country or the cast at this hour?
The boat is trembling,



The water is swelling,
Beware, my Captain, beware.
[Translation: Kabir Chowdhury]
2,950
Kazi Nazrul Islam

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Baby Sparrow

Baby Sparrow

From its nest behind the termite-eaten
wooden beams of the huge building
a baby sparrow cried out for its mother.
The mother, catching dragonflies
in the nearby field heard the cry.
'Must be that some mischievous child is trying to
take away my baby,' she thought
and, with her heart overcome with anxiety,
desperately headed back for the nest.
The fledgling saw its mother coming
and thought, 'Why don't I fly to her chest?'
and tried to do just that.
Alas, it hadn't learn to fly yet
and therefore fell all the way down to the floor. T
he mother, with tearful eyes saw this
and without any thoughts for her own life
flew down to her baby, trying
to protect her under her wings.
But soon some children came running,
chasing after them and finally catching the baby.
They showed no concern for
how precious the baby was to its mother.
They kept putting it inside an umbrella,
inside pockets, etc.
They all were laughing, except for one boyhis
eyes were overcome with tears.
His mother had passed away long ago,
he'd even forgotten what it was like
to be loved by his mother,
Yet, he felt a cry of pain deep within his heart.
With a ladder, he put the baby sparrow back in its
The tearful eyes of the baby sparrow
held heartfelt blessings for him.
The mother kept looking at the boy with great surprise,
her eyes too expressing her heartfelt gratitude for him.
These silent blessings that
the mother bird bestowed upon him,
the entire world cannot equal by a single speck.


[Original: Chorui Pakhir Chhana; Translation: Sajed Kamal]
657
Kazi Nazrul Islam

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Baby Sparrow

Baby Sparrow

From its nest behind the termite-eaten
wooden beams of the huge building
a baby sparrow cried out for its mother.
The mother, catching dragonflies
in the nearby field heard the cry.
'Must be that some mischievous child is trying to
take away my baby,' she thought
and, with her heart overcome with anxiety,
desperately headed back for the nest.
The fledgling saw its mother coming
and thought, 'Why don't I fly to her chest?'
and tried to do just that.
Alas, it hadn't learn to fly yet
and therefore fell all the way down to the floor. T
he mother, with tearful eyes saw this
and without any thoughts for her own life
flew down to her baby, trying
to protect her under her wings.
But soon some children came running,
chasing after them and finally catching the baby.
They showed no concern for
how precious the baby was to its mother.
They kept putting it inside an umbrella,
inside pockets, etc.
They all were laughing, except for one boyhis
eyes were overcome with tears.
His mother had passed away long ago,
he'd even forgotten what it was like
to be loved by his mother,
Yet, he felt a cry of pain deep within his heart.
With a ladder, he put the baby sparrow back in its
The tearful eyes of the baby sparrow
held heartfelt blessings for him.
The mother kept looking at the boy with great surprise,
her eyes too expressing her heartfelt gratitude for him.
These silent blessings that
the mother bird bestowed upon him,
the entire world cannot equal by a single speck.


[Original: Chorui Pakhir Chhana; Translation: Sajed Kamal]
657
Kazi Nazrul Islam

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Be Ever Stronger!

Be Ever Stronger!

Inside and outside, equally always
be stronger, ever!
The more bad times approach,
be firm and don't yield. Never!
The more you fear defeat,
just be that much more brave!
Let your sword-grip not loosen
at the thought of dark grave.


Continue your struggle against the monsters
for the truth's sake;
Death at the battle field? Your name
the world, forever, will take.


This is the command of God:
Be strong on this earth. Always!
It is the braves who have turned impossible
into possible in every age.


The unbelievers and the cowards to
Allah, they are not lovable;
The 'Tiger of Allah' is he,
who attains faith unshakable.


Anyone who loses patience and faith
can't be a Muslim under the sun;
God Himself is whose Lord in this world,
he fears absolutely none!


The believer hears only the echo of Takbir
in all the hatred and prejudice;
rebukes and criticism do not distract him,
at adversity he throws kiss.


God is the ultimate truth;
fear belongs to the domain of falsehood;
All these noise and hulabaloo,
for believers, become nutrition-food.


Have you forgotten
those fearless valiants from Arabia,
who dethroned
the emperors of Rome and Persia?


How many were they in number?
What weapon did their hands hold?
With their complete faith in God,
were they not wonderfully bold?


Oblivious to win or defeat,
they fought valiantly without precedence;
Every corner of the world shook



and trembled at their exemplary confidence.


They ruled the world
while lived like a destitute;
Loss of a battle did not ruin their spirit,
this was their attitude.


They died with a laugh;
retreating was not their mood;
To them Islam was
a perennial struggle against falsehood.


They were the warriors of God in this world,
this is what they knew;
They fought for and achieved freedom;
begging for it was not their view.


Success greets him who desires
to engrave his own death stone;
He can't be a general,
at sighting adversaries, who tremble to his bone.


The more enemies he sees,
his battle-thirst does grow!
Like a blazing fire in veins and bones,
his spirit burns aglow.


His swords become even sharper
as he is hurt more;
As his supplies diminish,
he strikes harder at enemies' door.


Don't despair! All the fatalist
and victims of hopelessness in my sight!
You are already wounded or dead
even without any fight!


The head that you lowered
in God's worship,
do not lower that to anyone,
or to any hardship.


The head that bent before God,
who can further make it bend?
If a sword severs that head,
to pick it up, angels God does send.


He who turns a weak person
into a power house,
he is the Imam to me,
love on him this soul bestows.



Whose words and deeds give strength and courage
to those without determination,
I am decorating his crown;
for him is my mobilization.


He who fasts so that
Eid will knock at poor's door,
I believe he is a beloved of God,
and yes, he is even more.


Against the ambassadors of miseries
or enemies of people,
the braves who will fight them
and make them cripple.


At the command of Allah,
I invite them to the congregation,
those who were asleep,
even they are joining in jubilation.


My Takbir call is only for those
who live like a dead,
the soldiers of the Truth
will come forward, off their comfy bed.


I blow the trumpet
of the rising sun of the coming age,
I have no fear of death,
or of a prison's cage.


I cry and summon all,
standing alone at the new age's minaret,
If a duck does not come forward,
a bird will come with its wing spread.


In this path fear of roaming hawks
and cruel hunters unavoidably lies,
the light-seeking birds are still coming forward
with chirps of sunrise.


Death-scared now are
the men and women of Bengal, to me so dear!
I have taken up the sword
to remove their stubborn fear.


We have heard
the scared souls' sad supplication,
we must rescue and free them,
this is what Allah wants from us as a nation.


We are His servants,
and we have received the mandate;



To save life of those scared people,
we would never hesitate.


I play the trumpet and wave the flag,
as the cloud gathers up above;
our souls will be awaken
with the strike of thunder and rain of love.


Politics paves the way
for our forward march,
victory will visit us again
on this same noble path.


In whose heart there is desire
and effort to become strong again,
I am close to them,
and at their door I knock in pain.


They are being mobilized
in Bengal's motherly lap,
I have seen full moon
shining above like a victory-cap.


[Original: Nitto Prabal Hou! (bengali)
Translation: Mohammad Omar Farooq]
695
Kazi Nazrul Islam

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Anwar

Anwar


[A dark prison-house guarded by sentries at Constantinople. Thc mid-night of a new
moon with silence prevailing everywhere, except occasional footsieps of sentries
walking with heavy boots. A young soldier belonging to the National Army under the
command of Anwar is lying captive there. Although rebellious in appearance, he looks
older than his age. Today he has faced a Court Martial. Tomorrow he will be shot dead.
So this is the last night of the luckless warrior fastened by iron chains around his
limbs'. Suddenly he wakes up.Shouting, but finds nobody nearby. Only cold wind
weeps for him, 'O the motherless'! ' The young rebel bites his left arm, loosing temper
as he remembers' the treachery of his countrymen. He remembers his commander,
who gave him the weapons to free his motherland. He shouts loudly calling his
commander, 'ANWAR'.]


Anwar. Anwar.


Valiant as you are,
Drive your sword hard,
Kill them all, and annihilate those beasts


Anwar, alas!
It's but an irony of fate that
the b1ood has no more that warmth and valour,
The shamsir is broken, its scabbard left-over.


Anwar! Anwar!
What makes you cry if everything goes undisturbed?
Look, muslims are pet animals in today's world.


No more, Anwar, no more!
Whose heart does not tremble?
The sword shines no more, Smarna is insignificant, as well.
Lool there tremble the gates of Madina.
No more Anwar, no more. Anwar! Anwar!
Tear the chest apart and bring out the liver,
Kill them all, kill all those coward beasts.


Anwar! are we pigs in chain?
The chain jingles on, and listen,
the fountain of flame is almost extinguished.
Our necks are in shackles, too.


Anwar! Anwar!
Why does the poor fox jump and brag?
Where is that mighty lion? - Anwar is full of wounds.
Anwar! it's really hard to wake up a narrow heart.
It is not least aware of the wild fire that comes all around.
My brother plays the part of a satan, he bribes me with his feast.
Anwar! we are, indeed, in a fix.


Anwar! Anwar!
We are all non-believers, having not even half the heart.
Where do you look for muslims? - they are all wild beasts.



Anwar! everything ends indeed,
Though the blood remains in the veins!
The occident has robbed you of your fake sword. I
t is now womanlike to surrender, weeping,
Anwar, although ends everything.


Anwar! Anwar!
It is useless to repent in this barren land.
Those, who are still living, are maddened animals.
Anwar! none is there. Weapon? - no, nowhere.
The sea is also dreadfully stagnant and dark, having no waves.
Even the beduin has put on shackles around his neck.
Anwar! none is left any more.


Anwar! Anwar!
He who calls him a muslim, drag him by his tongue.
The unfaithful knows only to save his own life.


Anwar, what a pity!
They have beggar's bags on their shoulders,
who learnt the lesson of liberty with the sword in hand.
The intrepid have turned disgusted today.
Anwar, what a pity!


Anwar! Anwar!
The world is now ruled by the killers,
Why then to abide by bloodred eyes! -
Devilry is today's tricks, indeed.


Anwar! hold your fists firm!
They persuade us in vain,
The suffering rebel heart dances in storms,
The blood-eater swords want the war,
Anwar, hold your fist firm.


Anwar! Anwar!
You are a Pasha, now turn a destroyer of muslim beasts,
The home is full of enemies, why do you hit the outsiders?
Come Anwar, O my brother,
I want today end of everything,
Islam, too, sets in; nowhere exists a liberated homeland!
So we have worn the guise of a beggar leaving aside the sword.
Come Anwar, a my brother.


(Suddenly a negro sentry shouted challengingly, 'Get alert, young man', The blood in
young man's vein boiled in agitation, He, too, shouted like a young lion.)


a Khuda! a Ali! Take my sword,


(Then the image of the chained mother-Turkey flashed before his eyes. Beside it the
image of his own mother appealed in the guise of a chained beggar-maid. Eye-corners
of both of them held drops of tears. Shocked as he was, the son turned his face aside



and cried out)


Who is it'? Deprived and deceived'?
No, mother, no,
It's no use afflicting a dead heart with a scar.
Anwar! Anwar!


(The coward sentry again tortured the young captive, who groaned in pain. I firmly
believe with my eyes full of tears, 'Days are near, good days'.)


[Original: Anwar; Translation: Mohammad Nurul Huda]
1,096
Kazi Nazrul Islam

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Anwar

Anwar


[A dark prison-house guarded by sentries at Constantinople. Thc mid-night of a new
moon with silence prevailing everywhere, except occasional footsieps of sentries
walking with heavy boots. A young soldier belonging to the National Army under the
command of Anwar is lying captive there. Although rebellious in appearance, he looks
older than his age. Today he has faced a Court Martial. Tomorrow he will be shot dead.
So this is the last night of the luckless warrior fastened by iron chains around his
limbs'. Suddenly he wakes up.Shouting, but finds nobody nearby. Only cold wind
weeps for him, 'O the motherless'! ' The young rebel bites his left arm, loosing temper
as he remembers' the treachery of his countrymen. He remembers his commander,
who gave him the weapons to free his motherland. He shouts loudly calling his
commander, 'ANWAR'.]


Anwar. Anwar.


Valiant as you are,
Drive your sword hard,
Kill them all, and annihilate those beasts


Anwar, alas!
It's but an irony of fate that
the b1ood has no more that warmth and valour,
The shamsir is broken, its scabbard left-over.


Anwar! Anwar!
What makes you cry if everything goes undisturbed?
Look, muslims are pet animals in today's world.


No more, Anwar, no more!
Whose heart does not tremble?
The sword shines no more, Smarna is insignificant, as well.
Lool there tremble the gates of Madina.
No more Anwar, no more. Anwar! Anwar!
Tear the chest apart and bring out the liver,
Kill them all, kill all those coward beasts.


Anwar! are we pigs in chain?
The chain jingles on, and listen,
the fountain of flame is almost extinguished.
Our necks are in shackles, too.


Anwar! Anwar!
Why does the poor fox jump and brag?
Where is that mighty lion? - Anwar is full of wounds.
Anwar! it's really hard to wake up a narrow heart.
It is not least aware of the wild fire that comes all around.
My brother plays the part of a satan, he bribes me with his feast.
Anwar! we are, indeed, in a fix.


Anwar! Anwar!
We are all non-believers, having not even half the heart.
Where do you look for muslims? - they are all wild beasts.



Anwar! everything ends indeed,
Though the blood remains in the veins!
The occident has robbed you of your fake sword. I
t is now womanlike to surrender, weeping,
Anwar, although ends everything.


Anwar! Anwar!
It is useless to repent in this barren land.
Those, who are still living, are maddened animals.
Anwar! none is there. Weapon? - no, nowhere.
The sea is also dreadfully stagnant and dark, having no waves.
Even the beduin has put on shackles around his neck.
Anwar! none is left any more.


Anwar! Anwar!
He who calls him a muslim, drag him by his tongue.
The unfaithful knows only to save his own life.


Anwar, what a pity!
They have beggar's bags on their shoulders,
who learnt the lesson of liberty with the sword in hand.
The intrepid have turned disgusted today.
Anwar, what a pity!


Anwar! Anwar!
The world is now ruled by the killers,
Why then to abide by bloodred eyes! -
Devilry is today's tricks, indeed.


Anwar! hold your fists firm!
They persuade us in vain,
The suffering rebel heart dances in storms,
The blood-eater swords want the war,
Anwar, hold your fist firm.


Anwar! Anwar!
You are a Pasha, now turn a destroyer of muslim beasts,
The home is full of enemies, why do you hit the outsiders?
Come Anwar, O my brother,
I want today end of everything,
Islam, too, sets in; nowhere exists a liberated homeland!
So we have worn the guise of a beggar leaving aside the sword.
Come Anwar, a my brother.


(Suddenly a negro sentry shouted challengingly, 'Get alert, young man', The blood in
young man's vein boiled in agitation, He, too, shouted like a young lion.)


a Khuda! a Ali! Take my sword,


(Then the image of the chained mother-Turkey flashed before his eyes. Beside it the
image of his own mother appealed in the guise of a chained beggar-maid. Eye-corners
of both of them held drops of tears. Shocked as he was, the son turned his face aside



and cried out)


Who is it'? Deprived and deceived'?
No, mother, no,
It's no use afflicting a dead heart with a scar.
Anwar! Anwar!


(The coward sentry again tortured the young captive, who groaned in pain. I firmly
believe with my eyes full of tears, 'Days are near, good days'.)


[Original: Anwar; Translation: Mohammad Nurul Huda]
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