Do the Heavens Have a Heart
With you,I touched the color of love,and in your eyes
Poetry & prose
Art & Culture
Poems and short prose by members of the family, in English and in Dari, with a selection of verses by other Afghan poets.
Dr. G. Rauf Roashan
Beyond the Heavens
O my belovedToo far is the heavenToo high is the sky
From a Distant Past
One night in the distant pastI danced with herThe fine perfume from the back of her earlobes
If Spring Comes
(Translation from the original Dari is by the writer himself.)On the arrival of springI would plant emeralds of grass on its path,
Moments
I got out of the cage of bodyTo see a world; all beginning and all endsI looked everywhere; there were no borders, no limits
Mother’s Paradise
The night was neither cold nor freezingIt was neither dark nor light and brilliantThey had filtered the air from dust
My Playmate the Rain
The fragrance of the original roseTakes me to the pastDistant pasts
My Shadow and I
were running awayFrom each otherThe sun would bring us together
Sculptor
If I were a sculptorI would carve your body from the purest marblesI would plant on your bosom
South Asian Dance
Her eyes are blackHer red dress of silkShe swirls and swirls
The Breast of the Moon
ByDr. G. Rauf RoashanThe milk of light from the Breast of the Moon
The Death of the Swan
In the old country, a vocalist of miraculous voiceSang a sad song of people’s choiceSang he the song of the swan’s death
The Frigid Tale of Truth
How calm is the snow?It covers the devastations of the autumnHow beautiful is the color white
The Games of Shadows
The Game of ShadowsWhenever I open my eyes to what’s pastI see myself swimming in the shadows
The Petal
(Translation from the original Dari is by the writer himself.)Look at this petalIt is so fine like your face
Time – My Enemy
My destiny that wasWritten behind the curtainsWas wrapped in the silk of mystery
Waiting for the Light
It is night and the birds are silentThe meadow is asleepThe flowers have hidden their colours from the night
The Color of Wonder
in the alternation of timeAcquired varietyThe raven of imagination in the expanse of thought
From God’s Land to God’s Land
I traveled from God’s land to Godland,whatever there was of white and black and color,I saw and I watched.
Zalmai Roashan
Allotment
You are dealt a hand of two, three, four, five, six, or seven—Random, unpredictable, unforgiving.You play them day and night,
Dancing Shoes
It is approaching midnight and I want to put these thought to paper before the wear and tear in my mind delays processing them, as the…
O God!
Your High Mountains,Insurmountable, But by a Few.Those Deep Oceans,
To Shahla
My Dear Daughter,I have loved you from the moment you came into this world.I have always known that—and I pray you have known it too.
A Reflection
Reflections of a 77-Year-Old Man If I could pose a question to an imaginary author of my life, it would be this: “A man of 77…
A Relationship
A Relationship Like No Other This is the story of a relationship like no other since the very first moment of our existence; Blessedly, weak and…
Dreaming of You
You were in my dreams, last night. I did not actually see you, but you were there. We were on top of this magnificent hill over…
Rain
Part You Must, With the Earth You Love,As You Plan Descending, From the Above.Promised in Books, Sacred to All,
Murtaza Roashan
امید
Hope
به امیدِ طلوعی بعدِ این سیاهی،سال‌ها در غربت و تنهایی،
باز گشت
Return
به فکر خدمتش اینجا رسیدم ولی این دل دگر نا آسوده باشدبه هرجا بنگری چوروچپاول عدو خون وطن را خورده باشد
ز عشق وطن
From Love of the Homeland
است که چنین نالانمدر سینه امید و زغمش گریانم
فردا
Tomorrow
این نرگس سرد نمیه جان بینروزی ز جوانی دادمیزد
یاد تو
Remembering You
دوش در نیمه شب یاد تو و من باهمگوئی شهد و شکر گشته رفیق و همدم
Other voices
ای کاش جنگ نمیبود
If Only There Were No War
ای کاش که در روی جهان جنگ نمی‌بوددر کارگه شیشه گـران سنگ نمیبود
دکان رنگ
The Shop of Colours
همه جا دکان رنگ است همه رنگ می فروشددل من به شیشه سوزد همه سنگ می فروشد
قصر چهل‌ستون کابل
The Chehelsotun Palace of Kabul
قصر چهل‌ستون کابل؛ از «جهان‌نما»ی زمان‌شاه تا ویرانی‌های جنگ قصر چهل‌ستون کابل یکی از باشکوه‌ترین بناهای تاریخی پایتخت بود که بر فراز تپه‌ای از کوه هندکی…
غربت
Exile
پس از این با که حدیثِ دلِ دیوانه کنمدشت پیمای جنونم بکجا خانه کنم
دور از وطن
Far from the Homeland
چندمین نوروز شد کاندر محن افتاده امدر دیار بیکسی دور از وطن افتاده ام
کابل ویرانک ما
Our Ruined Kabul
کی فراموش شود ، کابل ویرانک ماجاده و شهرنو و آن پل لرزانک ما
کعبه و بتخانه یکیست
The Kaaba and the Temple Are One
باران که شدی مپرس، این خانهٔ کیستسقف حرم و مسجد و میخانه یکیست
کل برادر
مرا بلخی، سمنگانی صدا کنفراهی یا که پروانی صدا کن
نامۀ پدری به پسرش
A Father’s Letter to His Son
سرودهٔ دردناک از یوسف کهزاد در فراق و حال زار افغانستان:گوش کن ای جان من یادت نره
