Tahira Naqvi translates Fahmida Riaz’s poem “23 March, 1973”, which she wrote when the rally of an opposition party was fired upon in Rawalpindi. The firing continued for four hours.
Translator’s note: On March 23, 1973, the Federal Security Force, a paramilitary force attacked a public opposition rally of Awami National Party leader led by Wali Khan at Liaquat Bagh killing a dozen ANP workers. Wali Khan narrowly escaped the attempt.
How long had the heart been cowering
How long a silence sat upon our lips
We were afraid even to talk
How long the laughter of children weighed heavy on the ears
Doubts and fears fenced in the heart
What is this wind that suddenly blows from the west
What is this blood-spattered dust-storm suddenly rising from the soil today
Dashing its head wildly everywhere
Twisting and turning in the streets and bazaars of the city
Wrapping itself around the pedestrians, spinning
Knocking crazily on closed doors
Flying like some flag over the city
Today all my fears have abandoned me
All of a sudden dread and apprehension are erased from my heart
Today is ablaze a strange thirst for blood in my heart
I feel the desire to dance like the whirlwind
The body ravaged and smashed with grief and sorrow
Come, my fellow countrymen! Dance, dance
The dance of rage, the dance of dissipated pride
The dance of sadness and infamy, the dance of shame
Shred the garment of compromise and expediency
Come stand in the pouring deluge of your tears
Wave these hesitating arms in the air
Let the body swirl in the vortex of dance
When we twirl in dance from city to city
Group after group will spin in currents
Let the body and soul dance, mind and voice dance
The blood in every vein of my body roils today
---
Translator’s note: On March 23, 1973, the Federal Security Force, a paramilitary force attacked a public opposition rally of Awami National Party leader led by Wali Khan at Liaquat Bagh killing a dozen ANP workers. Wali Khan narrowly escaped the attempt.
How long had the heart been cowering
How long a silence sat upon our lips
We were afraid even to talk
How long the laughter of children weighed heavy on the ears
Doubts and fears fenced in the heart
What is this wind that suddenly blows from the west
What is this blood-spattered dust-storm suddenly rising from the soil today
Dashing its head wildly everywhere
Twisting and turning in the streets and bazaars of the city
Wrapping itself around the pedestrians, spinning
Knocking crazily on closed doors
Flying like some flag over the city
Today all my fears have abandoned me
All of a sudden dread and apprehension are erased from my heart
Today is ablaze a strange thirst for blood in my heart
I feel the desire to dance like the whirlwind
The body ravaged and smashed with grief and sorrow
Come, my fellow countrymen! Dance, dance
The dance of rage, the dance of dissipated pride
The dance of sadness and infamy, the dance of shame
Shred the garment of compromise and expediency
Come stand in the pouring deluge of your tears
Wave these hesitating arms in the air
Let the body swirl in the vortex of dance
When we twirl in dance from city to city
Group after group will spin in currents
Let the body and soul dance, mind and voice dance
The blood in every vein of my body roils today
---