After Sehwan —dedicated to Sheema Kermani—
because she went. and Ahmed Faiz’s Aaj Bazaar mein
Pa ba JollaN Chalo
Go
Unwept tears, inner torments
Enough
Hidden desires, silent accusations
Enough
Go
Flaunt your fetters in the street
Arms aloft, enraptured, intoxicated
Disheveled, blood stained
Go
Lovers are yearning for your love
Go
Tyrant and crowd
Await
Slings and stones
Await
Sorrows and failures
Await
Who else is left to love
But you
Who else is left to fight
But you
Who else is left to die
But you
Arise and go
For love’s honor
Go
by Anjum Altaf
.
*Editorial note:
Sehwan is home to the shrine of a major sufi saint in
Sindh where a suicide bombing last week killed almost
a 100 devotees.
Sheema Kermani is a symbol of defiance in Pakistan as
a dancer who has continued to perform in public all
through the rise of fundamentalism and suppression.
She went to the shrine to dance right after the bombing.
.