A Langston Hughes’ Love Poem in Urdu
jab susanna jones laal-laal
rung k kapday penhati hai
tab us k chera
ek purani khoobsoorat
moorti jaisa lagata hai
jo hazaaron saalon say
kuch bhoora-bhoora sa
bun gaya ho.
aey sub logo
vo aa rehi hai
khuda k naam se
shehnaaian bajaao
sub logo!
jab susanna jones laal-laal
rung k kapday penhati hai
to aisa lagta hai
k hazaaron saal pehaly ki
egypt ki koee raani
is raat ko idhar-udhar
latak-matak rehi ho
shenaaian bajaao
khuda k naam se
sub logo!
susanna jones ki khoobsoorti
meray dil main
mohabbat ki aag lagga deti hai
dil main dard bhar deti hai
chaandi ki meethi-meethi
shenaaian bajaao
khuda k naam se
sub logo!
-tr. Ravi Kopra
When Sue Wears Red
When Susanna Jones wears red
her face is like an ancient cameo
Turned brown by the age.
Come with a blast of trumpets,
Jesus!
When Susanna Jones wears red
A queen from some time-dead Egyptian night
Walks once again.
Blow trumpets. Jesus!
And the beauty of Susanna Jones in red
Burns in my heart a love-fire sharp like pain.
Sweet silver trumpets,
Jesus!
- Langston Hughes