A poem in Urdu about helplessness of humans, with English translation.
Helplessness
Numerous complaints and questions I have for all;
Astonished I am with You and displeased with myself.
I feel haplessly desperate but to whom shall I complain?
You are invisible; if I could meet You, I would demand answers.
You have been so indifferent, perhaps helpless too;
What have we done, why this life of humiliation and destitution?
I can’t ask them, they are the culprits;
The privileged and powerful amongst them have made our life so difficult and unbearable?
You created this world; they laid down laws and carved out hell and heaven;
It is prudent that I endure my pain and remain silent, and wait stoically to meet You.
One day when we two meet, perhaps within the folds of my Self;
I shall demand answers and inquire about your helplessness and indifference.
We two despondent may then cry together and possibly flood a desert with our tears;
I may, thereafter, merge silently into You as our teardrops disappear into the desert sand, ice into vapours and a flower into fragrance.
Urdu – Majboor Insaan
Shikayat aur swalat hai muje’ sabse’ be-shumaar;
Hairat hai muje’ Tumse’, nakhushi bhee hai muje’ khudse’.
Majbhoor hun lekin shikayat karun kis se’?
Tum aankoo se’ dikhte’ nahi, dikhte’ to poochhta Tum se’.
Kya ranjish thhee mujse’, kya kasoor tha mera?
Kya dee tumne’ yeh zindaghi, zilat aur rusvai kee?
Kaise poochhon un se’, wohi toh hai kayamat karne’ wale’;
Dozakh mein muje’ daal dhenghe zindaghi ko jehanum bananein wale.
Tum ne sirf duniya banayee, unhu ne kanoon, jannat aur jehanum banaye’;
Ab bardasht karna akalmandi hai, chup reh ke Tumhara intzaar karna he behtar hai.
Shayad Tumse mulakat kabi khud ke’ he andar ho;
Tab pochhange vajahaat Tum se Teri majbooroyun ke’.
Ek din jab dono majboor royanghee, baad aayegee raigistan mein;
Tab mein jazab ho jaon Tum mein aise’ jaisee barish sama jayee garad mein, barf ho jaye’ bhukharaat aur phool mehak.
… Bill Koul [01 Jan 2021 @ Perth (Western Australia)]