Life Imprisoned
On both sides the desert lies,
Vast stretches of sand flys.
That shroud the moor and sky,
Through the desert road runs by,
Too many towered cities high,
Here and there people go,
Nazim cries in voice high and low.
Veiled in a ghetto below,
Lays lass with eyes glow.
II
Dates, eucalyptus, palm quiver,
Dusty and hot winds raising fever,
Man folk chatter without any manner,
Writhing with pain under the hot towers,
Cry for a space in cool bowers
And the cruel city empowers,
The rogues to chain and torture,
The beautiful veiled lass in tears,
Tears and tears but no sympathy ever.
III
In the towers women in veil,
Moving with heavy trail,
Sad and disheveled sail,
If recently freed from jail.
But no one has seen her face frail,
Or exchanging her happy mail,
Only fellow sisters and animals hail,
Among the hardened bearded males,
Heard an elegy sad and sail.
IV
Inside she works night and day,
A dark world in colors grey,
She was told as Allah say,
Forbidden to breathe free and gay,
Only to produce children and stay,
Unknown of the curse wormy,
Covered from top to bottom steadily,
Reading the book sadly and holy,
Chanted loudly, slowly and reputedly.
V
Sometimes group of traders glad,
A procession of ulemas glad,
Skull cap, knee salwar and shirt long clad,
Sometimes a herd of camels sad,
Outlawed to music and young cupids wed,
She has no young suitor glowed,
[...] Read more
poem by Dr. Yogesh Sharma
Added by Poetry Lover
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