Half a century on

my home and habitat

reduced to dust by

blind oppression.

My children, my people,

enmeshed in dreams

and lured by oases,

get decimated.

All round is a sea of blood,

Everyone target of censure,

Each lane slaughter house,

The world, professed

guardian of universal

brotherhood, watches

unmoved, silent

our extermination.

Oppressors’ shadows

are ever-lengthening,

earth blood-splattered

But as long as flames

fled with martyrs’ blood

keep on burning

heart is assured,

even in extremes of pain,

day follows dark night

(Translated by Prakash Chander)