Perhaps
by Momin Khan Momin
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

The cohesiveness between us, you may remember, or perhaps not.
Our solemn oaths of faithfulness, you may remember, or perhaps forgot.
If something happened that was not to your liking,
the shrinking away that produces silence, you may remember, or perhaps not.
Listen, the sagas of so many years, the promises you made amid time's onslaught,
which you now fail to mention, you may remember, or perhaps not.
These new resentments, those old rehashed complaints,
these lighthearted and displeasing stories, you may remember, or perhaps forgot.
Some seasons ago we shared love and desire, we shared joy ...
That we once were dear friends, you may have, perhaps, forgot.
Now if we come together, by fate or by chance, to express old loyalties ...
Our every shared breath, all our sighs and regrets, you may remember, or perhaps not.



Being
by Momin Khan Momin
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

You are so close to me
that no one else ever can be.

NOTE: There is a legend that the great Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib offered all his diwan (poetry collections) in exchange for this one sher (couplet) by Momin Khan Momin. Does the couplet mean "be as close" or "be, at all"? Does it mean "You are with me in a way that no one else can ever be?" Or does it mean that no one else can ever exist as truly as one's true love? Or does this sher contain an infinite number of elusive meanings, like love itself?



Being (II)
by Momin Khan Momin
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

You alone are with me when I am alone.
You are beside me when I am beside myself.
You are as close to me as everyone else is afar.
You are so close to me that no one else ever can be.

Keywords/Tags: Translation, Urdu, Momin Khan Momin, love, close, closeness, unity, farness, afar, memory, remembrance, forgetfulness, remember, forget, forgot, time, silence, mrburdu

Holy man say I can say I spend my day in prayer,

the answers,
not the askings.

I say, so
I know that, and
I know this:

Wiseman say wisdom pay all my way some day,
called today.

I say, I know so,
I think I am happy.

When the birds of spring sang with joy
To hail the blowing breeze pampering the face rapidly with moisturizing coy
When rays of the shine stand very kind to make the life neither hot nor too cold
Life rushes through the mobility of less anxiety or creating abundant tumult  
Shining novelty on juvenile tress’ robe bestow jubilee to those hurry to work
In confronting the bundle you expect to parole
Life is so lovely what are you feeling for?
- “ seems… GARLIC…?”
The most beautified Criollo … ladies of shadow…listen to spring and smooth song of returning swallows
- “ sounds GARLIC..?”
Sender of magic rockets to Apollo… ladies of shallow…   smell of plant mingled with heavenly blossom of sharp blue, it is a time to define the final intentions supposed to follow…
- “ feels GARLIC…?”
Drowsy, numb, with mouths open, shoulders down like zombies out of tomb… who are you? mighty dancers with delicate willow with strong sense of itching on our marrow
- “…ladies of GARLIC…”
Nobody comes, nobody goes, life is so hollow, what it supposed to be full of energy …you You talk a lot…just go!
smell strange not from corpses but from walls, earth, and ceiling… what is it?  
- “….life is …GARLIC…”

Mispronounced chaos sways
With its ellipsis misplaced
And taking away
Its own verdict
That was left displayed
Its own hole
Grown
From displacement
Carrying concrete
Like broken shoulder blades
Mispronounced
Mismatched
Deteriorating outcomes
Commonplace is then found
In its unity
Disuniting it all

we came from space
to space we shall return
to join the void
and the stars that burn

our endless lust
for wand'ring the unknown
our utmost joy
when (safe and sound) we're home

our sense of wonder
taking baby steps
our first endeavours
in this world and the next

from space we came
to space shall we return
to cross the void
and watch new stars get born

7 billion lively spirits
7 billion stories in the iris
7 billion is the population of humans in this world
But not 7 billion got humanity to hurl

World parted into two
Parted into two human zoos
Where the brain exists but isn't sensitive
Where biasing people on debris stuff is intuitive

World parted on bottom of the wealth
Privilege to one, poverty to others in stealth
Widening ineffectual separation
Filth full games of oppression

World parted on bottom of skin color and religion
Since when color became dominating and moral teaching became about ill-treating
Since when love chose the place where you're from
And not the story imprinted on your palm

Parting in two segments of goods and bads on both side
Cities will have the "Posh" area and the other ugly side
The probability to find your soulmate might go one by two
As he or she will be on the side of the city divided by you

Unity is needed in time of crisis,
We can beat this virus.
We need to trust than to doubt,
Don't let negativity surround.
We need to hold on,
Until it is gone.

enjoy the little things
they're everywhere you look
a smile on your beloved's lips
a photograph you took

a cup of tea to warm your hands
a record on repeat
a cat - yes, he's a pest! -
who rubs against your feet

a morning ray of light
to gently wake you up
a calm and silent night
a soft and tender hug

a hearty meal made just for you
a tune you gladly sing
a smiley face you daughter drew
a moment to slow down and think

enjoy the things you have for free
the air, the sun, the love
enjoy and one day you shall see
your life fits like a glove

Here I am
staring at pixelated people
and I want so desperately to see them
face to face.
My eyes ache from blue light.
Why are we even trying?

Ugh.

We are alone.
Isolated like islands
in a sea of disease
and fear.

But.

I called an elderly lady today
just to check in
since I can't see her
or listen to her talk
about doilies and dinners and memories

And.

I understood then --
alone does not mean apart
and distancing does not mean forgetting.
Yet I forgot.

So.

I'm not giving up
on the light of the summer
to chase away the winter blues
and diseases.

No matter what keeps us apart,
we are here
a safety net of helping hands and words
we are unity.