This poem was published on February 20, 2008 in The Daily Kawish. Poetess is Shagufta Jabeen. I think it is a very beautiful poem. I have tried to translate it below the Sindhi text (next page), but my translation is a bit amateurish. Any correction or suggestions from our seasoned readers will be appreciated.
Distances
The walking feet of time
are always in motion
The last sunset of December
which made a dazzlng show of colors
was nothing but an illusion
But
In the small interval of passing time
Our love, hate, separations
and closeness
and all references to my personal self are erased
In the journey from being very close to become a stranger
I am only left measuring distances
I am only left measuring distances
One of my good friends, Abrar Siddiqui who claims to know more Sindhi than me has sent following translation. Please take a look:
Running against the time
Like always
The last sunset of December
So dyed in infinite colors
Has become nothing but an illusion
But…
In this brief interlude of passing time
Our love, hatred, parting and greeting
And all that I am to myself
In a journey from consciousness to oblivion
Yet again…
Keeps on only scoping the differences
Mr. Latif Noorani, an avid reader of ATP has sent the following translation of the poem:
Tracing the footprints of time
Like always
Offering a scene
Of rainbow colours
The parting sun of December
Has become an illusion
But in that brief space of passing moments
Our affections, aversions, partings, meetings
And all references to our person
In the journey from familiar to unfamiliar
This year, too,
Scaled the distances alone
Scaled the distances alone…
Acknowledgements: Abrar Siddiqui, Zameer Soomro and Abdul Mujeer Qureshi
References: The Daily Kawish
Can someone PLEASE post the rough pronunciation of the Sindhi?
Bravo Owais! Once again your post showed your verstility and vision. Translating poetry is very delicate work. It is the soul rather than the word that should be captured while translating poetry. You have been pretty successful in capturing the soul. Keep it up.
Just a little correction. ‘Pera khanan’ in Sindh means tracing the footstep not the running footstps. Mr. Noonari’s translation is quite accurate in this regard.
I wish someone could bring forth poetry of Punjabi, Siraiki, Pushto and Balochi to share with readers.
owais, rather than being amateurish, your attempt has sincerity & captures the essence very well; in fact i found the 3 translations to be superb having an individual stamp of the translator; let me demonstrate with an example; “indhlati rang-a” which is “rainbow colors” and used as such by Mr. Noonari, appears as “dazzling show of colors” in your translation & “infinite colors” by Abrar sb. all 3 translations alluding to the kaleodoscope of colors & illusions and at some level personalizing the translations in their own way
today was the urs of Shah Abdul Latif so let me share one verse & please forgive me for being inspired by it & attempting not a translation but just imagining momal in the company of her friends in the magical kak mahal, a place of legend where countless perished just to catch her glimpse
the lady in the verse, her beauty was the talk of kingdoms far and wide; this tale is sung with great love and is indeed simply called the
Lateef Noorani, thanks for sharing with us your beautiful translation.
Interesting stuff! Nice to see Sindhi poetry. These are beautiful verses that many of us can relate to easily. All the translations are good (didn’t know bro Abrar was that good). I think taking what is closest in meaning to the original from the three translations may produce a more refined version, provided it rhymes and sounds nicely.