Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. parveen shakir (1952-1994), English literature and linguistics, correspondent, educator, Pakistan Civil Service officer. Prolific writer bringing new thought and new forthright, feminist style to urdu shaa’eri. An explicit expression of love and especially of spurned love by women was taboo until courageous poets like parveen shakir came forward. This is another poignant expression of her personal experience after a divorce that brought her sadness. It is linked to series of Ghazal with the radeef ‘ki tarah’ collected under the icon ‘dulhan ki tarah’ on the radeef-refrain page.
1
maqtal¹-e vaqt² meN Khaamosh³ gavaahi⁴ ki tarah
dil bhi kaam aaya hai gumnaam-sipaahi⁵ ki tarah    1.slaughterhouse 2.times, world 3.silent 4.testimony 5.(memorial to the) unknown soldier
The times/societal traditions are cruel, like a slaughterhouse. The grave of the unknown soldier bears silent testimony to the cruelties/tragedies of war. The heart too, has served the same purpose, bearing testimony to the cruelty of oppressive traditions.
2
ek lamhe¹ ko zamaane² ne raza³ poochhi thi
gufatgu⁴ hone lagi zill-e-ilaahi⁵ ki tarah   1.moment 2.world, society 3.free will, consent, agreement 4.conversation 5.shadow of god
This has reference to the tradition in islam of asking the bride whether she consents to be married. It is supposed to be a consent given by her of her own free will. She is (ritualistically) asked for consent just at that one moment. Soon after that the conversation changes to a tone as if the ‘shadow of god’ is speaking i.e., it is no longer a consensual relationship of equals.
3
zulm¹ sahna² bhi to zaalim³ ki himaa’et⁴ Thahra
Khaamushi⁵ bhi hui pusht-panaahi⁶ ki tarah   
1.oppression 2.bear, accept 3.oppressor 4.help, cooperation 5.silence 6.covering the back, protecting
After all quietly bearing oppression/injustice is like helping the oppressor/unjust. Being silent is also like helping along the unjust system.
4
us ne Khushbuu¹ se karaaya tha ta’aaruf² mera
aur phir mujh ko bikhera³ hai hava hi ki tarah    1.fragrance, happiness 2.introduction 3.spread, scatter, cast away
He introduced me to happiness and then scattered/cast me away like the wind.
5
kullahum¹ ek diya² aur hava ki iqliim³
phailti⁴ jaaye muqaddar⁵ ki siyaahi⁶ ki tarah    1.sum total, all in all 2.lamp 3.domain 4.spread 5.fate 6.darkness
Wind blows out the lamp and darkness spreads. Thus, all there is, is a single lamp, and the domain of the wind blows it out and darkness spreads like the darkness of fate.