In which glows the true fire of life.For those lucky/learned enough to be able to read it, the original Urdu is printed alongside the translation of each poem. Here is my favourite of her poems among those printed here: The Daughter of Richesįor around their feet diligence has tied ankletsįor in their hands is the harp of love for the soilįor in their eyes is the intoxication merely of the warmth of wheat. However, in theme and content, her work is insurrectionary, presenting radical perspectives on the lives of women. Ahmad notes that the youngest poet featured, Ishrat Aafreen, writes in a highly polished traditional style, observing the classical rules of form and meter scrupulously. She wastes no time on what is evident and obvious, instead drawing attention to what Anglophone readers may miss, like Fahmida Riaz' focus on using less "persianised" forms in her Urdu and the political significances of this. I particularly appreciated her brief introductions to each poet. We can't remember our dreams.Ahmad's introduction is concise and highly informative. įailing, and willing herself to hold on again. Kishwar Naheed's poem A Palace of Wax suggests that keeping silence about shared experiences adds to their traumatic nature. Then, the punishment which everyone deservedĪnd we were all virtuousThe scope of the poems goes beyond such specific issues, however, encompassing experiences of love and sexuality, oppression, freedom and liberation and all the painful politics of the personal in a patriarchal society (like every culture I know about). Neelma Sarwar's poem To The First Man to be Awarded Lashes also refers to the Ordinances, and reminds me of the oft quoted "let he who has not sinned cast the first stone" You are the Messiah of my times One of the Ordinances allowed the punishment of adultery by stoning, and although it was apparently awarded only once and never carried out (the case was dismissed) thanks largely to pressure and agitation by women's organisations, two poems in the collection refer to it, illustrating the horror the mere existence of such a law evoked. A number of the poems make some reference to these laws. In her introduction, Ahmad explains the socio-political context of the poems, important to which is the promulgation of the Hudood Ordinances under General Zia-ul-Haque. It comprises work by seven women poets all selected and translated by Rukhsana Ahmad on the basis of its feminist qualities. One of the Ordinances allowed the punishment of adultery by stoning, and although it was apparently awarded o I read this collection in one morning.
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