SHADOW OF SILENCE--bilingual

SHADOW OF SILENCE


I’m not sad, simply wrapped in
A shadow of silence.
I’m alive but my breath is
Labored, weary and dense.

I have had my own share of
Happiness and sorrows.
The former was too distant,
The latter were too close.

I could have chosen the morn,
But look at what I chose;
I preferred the lengthening
And darkening shadows!

What I used to tell others
In letters large and bold,
Those same lessons of lost love
I have to myself told.

No my friend, I am not sad.
But yes, I am too quiet.
That is the only way to
Hide inner disquiet.


• Written in abcb, 7-6-7-6 format
• Loosely translated from/patterned on the popular Hindi movie song, given below, which can be heard at—

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJeeZwBn70M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fbrpE2tScA&NR=1

*Initially posted as entry 409996 (now deleted) in the book BILINGUAL POETRY, "BILINGUAL POETRY BOOK" . Posted as the present item on 1 August 2009.


M C Gupta
1 March 2006




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बस एक चुप सी लगी है नहीं उदास नहीं
bas ek chup see lagee hai, naheen udaas naheen,


Film: Sannata (1966)
Music: Hemant
Lyrics: Gulzar
Singer (s): Hemant


बस एक चुप सी लगी है नहीं उदास नहीं
कहीं पे साँस रुकी है नहीं उदास नहीं
बस एक चुप सी लगी है

कोई अनोखी नहीं ऐसी ज़िंदगी लेकिन
खूब न हो, मिली जो खूब मिली है।
नहीं उदास नहीं, बस एक चुप सी लगी है ...

सहर भी ये रात भी दोपहर भी मिली लेकिन
हमीं ने शाम चुनी, हमीं ने शाम चुनी है
नहीं उदास नहीं, बस एक चुप सी लगी है ...

वो दासताँ जो हमने कही भी, हमने लिखी,
आज वो खुद से सुनी है
नहीं उदास नहीं, बस एक चुप सी लगी है