Appu Dadda ki Tooti-Ghar Dukaan Par (Elizabeth Ash Velez)
An English poem translated into Urdu (monotony of marriage)
main aur meri beewee nay,
ek shaniwaar ko,
neechaay waalay ghusalkhaanay
ki lumbaaee-choraaee leni shuroo ki.
Appu Daada ki tooti-ghar ki dukkan par
paani k basin acchay nahin thay,
aur Appu k shagird nay salaah di:
vo badaami rung ka commode
kabhi bhi na tootay ga.
lakin mujhay patta hai
k ek puraani tile
jo hamesha k liyay
cement main laggi huee hai,
meray dil ki khushion
kay raastay main aa kar
akar kar baithi huee hai.
-tr. Ravi Kopra
Apex Plumbing
On a Married Saturday,
we measure the
Downstairs bath.
At Apex Plumbing,
O the sinks are sad,
And the young man
Warns me:
That apricot commode
Is forever.
But I know
That the old tile,
Set in concrete,
is the only
Obstacle
To my heart’s desire.
-Elizabeth Ash Velez