Shocking reports of arson, and violence against Muslims in Baharaich

“Also, not to be overlooked the fact that thousands of women and children and men of the country are in the missing slot! Where are they? Who will find them? And when? Another disturbing reality is that of children facing malnutrition and with that their health affected. And now with bulldozers destroying homes, the poverty graph sure to peak, affecting the very well-being and survival of our children.”

FAIZ AHMED FAIZ’s – Beirut

Came across this verse titled – Beirut – by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, in the volume titled – ‘A Song For This Day – 52 poems of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’ (Sang-E-Meel Publications). Translated from Urdu to English by Shoaib Hashmi, accompanying images from the works of Faiz’s daughter Salima Hashmi, the verse stands out, along a diverse range, from prisons to prisoners to people and their plight.

This volume was published around December 2009, but holds out to this day. Today as Beirut and the other towns and cities of Lebanon are bombarded by the Israeli forces, there’s much focus and concern for Lebanon and its people. Ending this week’s column with Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s verse ‘Beirut’ tucked in this volume:

‘Beirut’

Beirut the fairest maiden in the pageant of life,/

Beirut the wondrous replica of the Garden of Solomon/

The   twinkling, dancing eyes of all the children/

Were shattered like so many bright mirrors/

And now all the shards are become like stars/

And their luster lights the sky of this city/

And the Cedar-land Lebanon is all light once more/

Beirut the fairest maiden in the pageant of life/

Beirut the wondrous replica of the Garden of Solomon/

And all the faces covered in blood/

And taken on the crimson hue of it/

And their bright colour/

Brightens all the streets of the town/

And the Land of Lebanon too shines bright/

Beirut the fairest maiden in the pageant of life/

Beirut the wondrous replica of the Garden of Solomon/

Each haunted home, each crumbling house/

Seems the equal of the palace of the Great Darius/

Each soldier the envy of Alexander/

Each maiden like Laila born again /

The city was there at the beginning of time/

The city will be there till the end of time/

Beirut the fairest maiden in the pageant of life/

Beirut the wondrous replica of the Garden of Solomon/’

—–