Ayaz Gul is one of the leading contemporary Sindhi poets of the country. He has published seven collections of poetry, including the critically acclaimed Dukh Ji Na Pujani Aa (1987) and Deenh Dithey Ja Sapna (1984). He is currently chairman of the Sindhi Department, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur. Gul’s poetry is marked by an insightful sense of the present and its inalienable association with the past. ‘Maslahat-i-Khudawandi’ is one of his most oft-discussed poems.

The Divine Discretion

They say
The walls have ears.
Better that they do not keep a tongue!
Else so many secrets would be open
And so many stories would pierce
The darkness and be common
The masks of nobility would come off
And how utterly irksome
Faces would appear.

Many a man measured in gold
Would prove to be fake
And dreams would weep
At their interpretation.
With the dispersal of beliefs
All beautiful thoughts
Would sip poison
Ruins would rein in
Yes, ruins would rein in

Better it is
Those walls don’t keep a tongue.

Translated by Latif Noonari

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, June 3rd, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...