With my recent love for Habib Jalib sahab here’s one of his finest poems. The fact that it pretty much implies for every era is commendable. The poem was originally written In 1962, when Field Marshal Ayub Khan formulated the new constitution and was playing the flute of his administrative capabilities, Jalib called it faulty. He called it a tool of exploitation and wrote his most memorable poem Dastoor which shattered the manipulated intentions of the government. The light which shines only in palaces Burns up the joy of the people in the shadows Derives its strength from others’ weakness That kind of system, like dawn without light I refuse to acknowledge, I refuse to accept I am not afraid of execution, Tell the world that I am the martyr How can you frighten me with prison walls? This overhanging doom, this night of ignorance, I refuse to acknowledge, I refuse to accept Flowers are budding on branches”, that’s what you say, “Every cup overflows”, that’s what you say, “Wounds are healing themselves”, that’s what you say, These bare-faces lies, this insult to the intelligence, I refuse to acknowledge, I refuse to accept For centuries you have all stolen our peace of mind But your power over us is coming to an end Why do you pretend you can cure pain? Even if some claim that you’ve healed them, I refuse to acknowledge, I refuse to accept.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 07:36:20 +0000
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