Rakasa’t Masr….(the Egyptian belly dancer)

Thousand ripples on the body of Nile.

Eager eyes scarce rest a while.

Slowly meanders and circles around.

To skirt and girdle many a mound!

Smoothly glides, the glimmers blind,

Prances without her soul’s mind.

Gyrates and frolics, spreading smiles,

decked her bosom in a hundred styles.

Gurgles and intones her lamenting song.

Ogled and ravished by a hundred strong.

Alien the vessels; that ply her deep.

Scant the tears; that a tragedy weep.

Upon her soul, gaudy praises heap,

millennial debris at her bosoms keep.

In her cleave thrust Sinai’s knife.

Time, cheaply, sold in a festering strife.

Northern scourges from south and seas.

Westerly winds wrench easterly fees.

Her heaving chest, pinned dubious stars.

Thrown at her; not won in wars.

**Zaie ille rakasat ala al siliem, hea.

Lalafooq shafooha wale ille tahat shafooha.

To a valiant people, a hush bestowed,

Wishes and visions below deck stowed.

Caged in an era of hieroglyphically cues.

centuries she awaits, her baked sinew.

original

saadat tahir

22 July,2k10

Islamabad