Four Walls and a Veil
Recently I came across an Urdu poem which left me, for a lack of a better word, stunned. It captures the dehumanization of women by traditionalist Islamic cultural and religious elements in brutally powerful and blunt manner. I found myself shocked at the boldness of the poet. This poem would be considered blasphemous if one were to consider it in a historical context. Chador aur Char Divari was written by Fehmida Riaz. A controversial Pakistani poet who was victimized for her views.
I think that this peom is exceptional and speaks volumes. Bravo!
Translation:
Four Walls and a Black Veil
What shall I do, Sire, with this black veil?
Why do you bestow on me this great favour?
I am not in mourning that I should wear it
To show the world my grief.
Nor am I sick That I should hide my shame
In its dark folds.
Stamp my forehead with this Dismal seal?
If I am not too impudent, Sire
If you assure my life, may I tell you, Most humbly:
There lies, in your perfumed chamber, A corpse that stinks.
It begs for pity. Cover that shroudless corpse.
Not me. Its stench is everywhere. It cries for seclusion.
Listen to the heart-rending screams
Of those still naked beneath the veil.
You must know them well, these maids:
The hostage women of vanquished peoples,
Halal for a night, exiled at dawn;
The slave girls who carried your blessed seed
And brought forth children of half status only, yet
Was it not honour enough for them?
The wives who wait their precious turns
To pay homage to the conjugal couch;
The hapless, cowering girl-child
Whose blood will stain your gray beard red.
Life has no more tears to shed; it shed them all
In that fragrant chamber where, for ages now,
This sacrificial drama has played
And replayed. Please, Sire, bring it down.
The curtain. Now. You need it to cover the corpse.
I am not on this earth merely as a signet
Of your great lust.
These four walls and this black veil—
Let them bless the rotting remains.
I have spread my sails
In the open wind, on the wide seas,
And by my side a man stands,
A companion who won my trust
Thanks to Sherryx for letting me cross-post this poem from his blog.
An amazing poem! Thanks for the translation. I’ve read about this poet on Raza’a blog as well, and it is a shame that the western world stands deprived of these powerful lyrics and passionate sentiment. It must be a even more of a delight to read them in Urdu, I’m sure!
Having said that, I am piqued by your choice of words in the short prologue that you wrote to this post:
“shocked at the boldness of the poet”… why would you would be shocked at the outpourings of a creative mind? Why do you perceive it as a ‘bold’ stance unless you silently agree with, or passively adhere to, the code that the poet apparently violates with her ‘bold’ writing…
…simply curious about your choice of semantics…
Please disregard this comment if it offends.
Comment by I Me My — November 21, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
I am shocked because I have never come across such a poem by a Pakistani female poet. I was trying to applaud her attempt. I think that she was quite bold considering the circumstances and context of her environment. That boldness should be applauded. After all she comes from a country where an accusation of blasphemy can lead to a death sentence and any sort of criticism of Islam is not tolerated. I wish there were more artists of this ‘bold’ variety who were willing to openly portray what is on their minds.
Comment by cubano — November 29, 2008 @ 9:58 pm