LOST in Translation

I’m always late

Poet

Munir Niyazi

Pen Name(s)

Munir

Translation in Rhyme

In all I do, I’m late, you see,
Be it words unsaid or a heartfelt plea,
To call her back, or a promise to keep,
I lag behind, in my timing, I reap.
 
To offer aid, or consoling speech,
On worn paths traveled, I’m slow, out of reach.
In every season’s shift, I pause, I’m slow,
Remembering some, forgetting others as I go.
 
In moments dire, from death to save,
Or shatter illusions, reality engrave.
In all I undertake, I hesitate,
I’m always late, my timing’s fate.
 

Translation in Prose

I’m always late in doing everything,
Whether it’s something important that I have to say, a promise I have to keep.
Whether I have to call after her, ask her to come back,
I’m always late.
Whether I have to lend a helping hand, say words of encouragement,
Whether I have to travel on worn paths to go meet her,
I’m always late.
Whether I have to occupy myself in the changing seasons, remembering someone forgetting others
I’m always late.
Whether I have to save someone from grieving before death, to break the news that reality was different from perception,
I’m always late in doing everything.
 

Transliteration

hameshā der kar detā hūṇ maiṇ har kām karne meṇ 
zarūrī bāt kehnī ho koī vāda nibhānā ho 
usay āvāz denī ho usay vāpus bulānā ho 
hameshā der kar detā hūṇ maiṇ 
madad karnī ho us kī yār kī dhāras baṇdhānā ho 
bahut derīna rastoṇ par kisī se milne jānā ho 
hameshā der kar detā hūṇ maiṇ 
badalte mausamoṇ kī sair meṇ dil ko lagānā ho 
kisī ko yād rakhnā ho kisī ko bhūl jānā ho 
hameshā der kar detā hūṇ maiṇ 
kisī ko maut se pahlay kisī ġham se bachānā ho 
haqīqat aur thī kuch us ko jā ke ye batānā ho 
hameshā der kar detā hūṇ maiṇ har kām karnay meiṇ

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