Three Poems by Aftab Yusuf Shaikh

 

Kings’ Crowns (English Ghazal)

 

Kings lose crowns, in love aught gains none,
What fantasy do you dwell in? Love and pains none?

I chose the learned, to learn, but learned,
They all rob your talent, nobody trains none,

Death stands better than the curse of love,
For the promise of death disdains none,

The masters, the slaves, all owners of stolen land,
They all in final got to leave. Here remains none.

The swords of massacre never won. Not ever one.
My scabbard of love wins over yet slain none,

Aftab, if the lover does wish crushing you into bits,
Bear in silence, for you loved. Utter complains none.

 

 

Havoc (English Ghazal)

 

No havoc on the foam, rather sink deep quietly,
the womb of the ocean, beckons, go seep quietly,

I knew he visited her every day, her harem,
so I caught once the damned Sun creep quietly,

When you decide to leave me in the half tread way,
write a note and by my bed, keep quietly,

You buy shoulders, you sell away your tears,
you know not what privilege is to weep quietly,

This world is a sham, be not known to it,
come and leave, and meanwhile peep quietly,

This hullaballoo of life and you, my Aftab,
wait till you get forever to sleep quietly.

 

 

Ebrahim

 

Father of many thoughts

His heart brimming over with love.

Father of many dreams

His hopes running ahead of him.

 

The sun shining

On his face as if he was

The East himself,

His eyes full of smoke

Like the furnace of passion

Was right behind them.

 

Father of many sighs

His breath waving with faith.

Father of many tears

His cheeks red with regrets of

The Past.

 

The moon adoringly shares light with him,

His father’s piece-of-heart,

His Arab nose hangs down

His face like a sharp dagger.

 

Father of many words,

He spoke his heart out.

Father of many…

Will he be a father of many!

Aftab Yusuf Shaikh - Shaikh has been writing ever since he was eight years old and has published much of his work through various avenues. His novel 'The Library GIrl' and children's book 'Letters to Ammi' were published in 2017 and 2019 respectively. He also published two volumes of poetry, namely 'Tehzeeb Talkies' (2020) and 'Mominpura' (2021). He has earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in English Literature, Religious Studies, and Psychology.