There was a time... We were beautiful

Beautifully magical poetry (by Ahmed Shameem) sung by one of the loveliest of voices (Nayyara Noor):

Once... We were beautiful

Here follows an effort at translation that cannot do justice, but the colors seem to shine through even in a different language.

Note: "Us" and "We" are sometimes used in urdu as slightly impersonal substitutes for "Me" and "I". In this poem they seem kindof an effort to divert attention and sound less narcisstic, thought the use can have many meanings depending on context.

Once... We were beautiful

There was a time... We were beautiful

There was a time... We were beautiful

Like the lasting scent settled in oft-read books

Our breaths were hushed.

With the palette of a myriad unsaid words,

We used to paint murals.

On the wings of warblers, we'd carve poems

And sing them... to nestlers on far-off lakes...

Who lived far far from us...

yet were so near our hearts...

When labors of another day

Alighted in our garden, with the light of dawn

We used to say:

"Mama! these butterflies have such pretty wings".

Oh dear, kiss us...

Kiss us on the forehead

For we long to soar to the lands of

Butterflies,

Fireflies...

For rainbow fireflies,

Butterflies of light... beckon us thither...

Labors of another day mingle

With gentle breeze drenched in color

And beckon us through the window...

Oh dear, kiss us...

Kiss us on the forehead

Kiss us on the forehead...