CONTRIBUTION: Aurat ki Taaqat (A Woman’s Strength)

Poem by Syeda Raadiyah Ali, communication major

Main kaisa raaz hoon, 

Tum nahin samjho gey. 

 

Jis din meri taaqat ko tum dekho gey, 

Tum, tum akele, kamzor parh jao gey. 

 

Teray chilane se to seham jaati hai shikaarni teri. 

Meray cheekh ne se chup ho jaati hai dunya saari. 

 

Teray barasne se phool berang murjha jaate hain. 

Meray garajne se to pahaar bhi kaamp jaate hain. 

 

Filhaal main hoon chaman mein ek khilti kali, 

Lekin ander mere jal rahi hai ek dabi chingari. 

 

Jis din mera haath uth gaya, 

Teri anaa ko chup lag jayegi. 

 

Uss din meri taaqat ko tum dekh lo gey, 

Jab tum, tum akele, kamzor parh jao gey. 

 

Translation: 

 

The sort of enigma I am, 

You will not understand. 

 

The day you witness my strength, 

You, you alone, will be powerless. 

 

When you yell, your victim grows frightened. 

When I scream, the whole world falls silent. 

 

When you lash, colorless flowers wither. 

When I roar, even the mountains shiver. 

 

For now I am a blossoming bud in a field, 

But burning inside me is a hidden flare. 

 

The day when my own hand rises, 

Your ego will become speechless. 

 

That day you’ll witness my strength, 

When you, you alone, are powerless.