Ali Baba Taj is a distinguished Urdu, Hazargi and Persian poet. He is the author of a collection of poems titled Muthi Mein Kuch Saansein. He has also translated works of Mirza Bedil. He is an assistant professor at General Musa Government Post-Graduate College, Quetta, where he teaches Persian language and literature. ‘Punishment’ is one of his recent poems.

Punishment

If you must, ask me about time’s significance
When do we put a number to our lives?
Our dreams
Are there to just save us
Grief, mirth keep moving on
Let this wind
This dusty wind blow
Who has the time to remember songs?
What is that thing called dance?
The feet don’t stop moving
In our shelters, our abodes

Translated by Peerzada Salman

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, June 15th, 2018