Cities
on Fire
Amin Kamil
What fire is
this, O Lord? City after city is burning.
The reason turned into pitch-smoke, ifs and buts are burning.
The
roof's aflame, the walls come down, the rooms ablaze
Houses light up houses, person after person is burning.
Like
a scorching desert it sucks the moisture from the eyes.
Even the sighs can’t have an effect, effects are burning.
Every
thoughtful mind’s tranquil is smoldering within.
Faces have turned black as coal and the hearts are burning.
The
split seconds are catching the sparks-- a lot to brave!
The moment's like an ember-burnt hole and the time's burning.
The
mountains crack and rocks melt just like wax.
The brooks bubble along the course with waters burning.
(draft translation;
under revision)
Translated
from the Kashmiri by Muneebur Rahman
OPINION:
What do you think of the poem?