jab subah ki pehli kirnay nikleen
Eknidu, jo saari raat na soya tha
rundi ke khilaaf chilaanay lag para:
"hey tu bazari aurat, jo tu mujay
yahaan shair se laayi hai,
main tumain bad-dawaa deta hoon:
khuda karay tu shair ka koora-karkat khaaey
tujhe ganday nallon ka paani peeno ko milay
khuda karay tu andheri gallion main maangti firay
tera koee ghar-bahr na ho. tu shair ke darwaazay par soey
teray kapdon par ulteeon ke nishaan hon
khuda karay sob lob tumain bad duwaaian dain
tumaray khilaaf bolain aur tum se door chalain
tumari hi wajah se sab log mujhay chor gaye hain
main unke saath rehta tha aur paharon par ghuumta tha
-tr. Ravi Kopra
from David Ferry’s English translation of Gilgamesh, a Babylonian epic
circa 2000 B.C., published in World poetry, pages 11-12, Washburn and Major eds., WW Norton, London, New York, ISBN 0-393-04130-1. 1977
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