BILINGUAL POETRY BOOK

PROSTITUTE— a semi-ghazal-- Rated 4 by 5 users

PROSTITUTE— a semi-ghazal

[A woman, unable to find work, is forced to sell her body to feed her baby]



For my wail, buyer is none;
For my truth, buyer is none.

Morals carry no value,
For morals, buyer is none.

I cry for my sick baby,
For tears, buyer is none.

I sell body to feed him,
But, for work, buyer is none.

I am prostitute because,
For my sweat, buyer is none.

One who may repay by death,
For me such buyer is none.

Nobles! Khalish bows to you
Nobleness’s buyer is none.



* Written in 7-7 format


* Translated from my original ghazal in Hindi, given below. For learning more about ghazal, see "WHAT IS A GHAZAL AND HOW TO WRITE IT?" . A partial attempt has been made in this translation to adopt the ghazal style. It is partial because the translated version has refrain but lacks monorhyme, due to translational difficulties related to differential language characteristics.


M C Gupta 'Khalish'


Created: 30 April, 2003 as item 712222
Deleted as independent item: 12 March 2005


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DHANDHA


Bebas ki siskiyon ka khariidar nahin hai
sachaaii ka koi bhi khariidaar nahiin hai.

ikhlaaq ko bhuuli huii hai aaj ye duniyaa,
ikhlaaq ka duniyaa mein khariidaar nahiin hai.

beemaar bacchha bhuukh se rotaa ho god mein,
par maan ke aansuon ka khariidaar nahiin hai.

bin kaam ke mitatii nahin hai bhookh rotii ki,
hai jism ka, par kaam ka khariidaar nahiin hai.

tum poochhate ho kisliye kartii huun mein dhandha,
afsos, paseene ka khariidaar nahiin hai.

Badle mein jism bechane ke baksh de jo maut,
Aisa bhi meharbaan khariidaar nahiin hai.

Sharaafat ke kadra-daano, hai tum ko meraa salaam,
Sharaafat ka Khalish koi khariidaar nahiin hai.