The light which shines only in palaces <br />Burns up the joy of the people in the shadows <br />Derives its strength from others’ weakness <br />That kind of system, <br />like dawn without light <br />I refuse to acknowledge, <br />I refuse to accept <br /> <br />I am not afraid of execution, <br />Tell the world that I am the martyr <br />How can you frighten me with prison walls? <br />This overhanging doom, <br />this night of ignorance, <br />I refuse to acknowledge, <br />I refuse to accept <br /> <br />“Flowers are budding on branches”, that’s what you say, <br />“Every cup overflows”, that’s what you say, <br />“Wounds are healing themselves”, that’s what you say, <br />These bare-faces lies, <br />this insult to the intelligence, <br />I refuse to acknowledge, <br />I refuse to accept <br /> <br />For centuries you have all stolen our peace of mind <br />But your power over us is coming to an end <br />Why do you pretend you can cure pain? <br />Even if some claim that you’ve healed them, <br />I refuse to acknowledge, <br />I refuse to accept. <br /> <br />[Translation of Urdu Poem 'Dastoor']<br /><br />Habib Jalib<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dastoor/
