THREE POEMS ON PELLET VICTIMS OF KASHMIR

Muhammad Nadeem VULTURES AND DOVES ALL OVER AGAIN it’s apple seasonDoves are under curfew, againa filthy scenario all aroundfrom all quarters—(leftists, rightists,secularists, nationalists, cynics, critics andcrazed, nihilistic zealots)catch and killin the most highly militarized zone in the worldVultures and Doves all over againbullets, bombs, and bands of cowards hunt in … Read more →

Tchu Misri – Quatrains on the 2016 Uprising in Kashmir

Original Nazm by Zareef Ahmad Zareef, translated by Ather Zia. Tchu Misri Quatrains Dilawar syean temney kith shather chem pyemeth watnass mye yem tosas ae’ther chem Che yem azeh myeni chamneik posh putchnan Temen muleh kadneh dramit yemh pothar chem Karneh wadoah wai petran gam te doakh Loleh watnass khuneh sagwaan … Read more →

Love and Cheer in Tight Embrace

By Saba Mahjoor mid-day the spicy potatoes the black blanket on the floor dozing in and out of careless folly the milky sleep the mild heat blazing blue sky candy floss clouds the gentle breeze trees swaying a last secret green eyes blue veined hands a kiss on the lips a … Read more →

My silky silhouette

I What if one day I say, Love I’m tired of this pretend-perfection What if that day I unwrap My silky silhouette Unhook my gold earrings Scatter my pearl necklace Unknot my braids of reason Only to show you My scarred forehead Muddied hands Bruised knees My bright doll-house What … Read more →

Intisaab- Kashmir kay shuhda kay naam

Mohammad Huzaifa Pandit Badan dareeda huun aaj ki ghata bain karti hui aayi hai Yeh sham ki kasini chaon, dehleez pay pukartay saaye Aur dareechon ki na-beena tatolti aankhain Khoonrez hawaao.n main, boo-e-gham ki muntazir Ki aaj qatalgahon say shayad phir teray kakulon ki mehak aayi hai. Haan wohi mehak … Read more →

Two poems by Asiya Zahoor

Hawa Mahal Lal Chund shaped the Palace of Winds as Lord Krishna’s crown. He tamed the course of wind to swirl and keep cold the Queens of Kachwaha, snow shrouds on beds burning sand. “Follow me, Ma’am,” the guide said, “I‘ll show you nine-ninety-nine windows. Intricate lattice work, heavily colored … Read more →