Bol (Speak) by Faiz Ahmed Faiz's

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Speak!

for your lips are still free…

Speak!

for the tongue is still yours.

That virile body that is yours–

Speak!

For life is still yours.

See:

in the blacksmith’s shop,

fierce the flames, red the anvil,

the forge: its hungry jaws widening,

the chains: its lap, inviting–

Speak!

for this short time is enough

before body & tongue’s demise.

Speak!

for truth is still alive.

Speak!

whatever you want to say… speak it!

Translated from Urdu by Hersh