Y know I wish that alt the hills and all the vales should bow to me—Y know I wish the grains of sand the oceans waves should long for me—Y know I wish the good the evil should kiss my hand—Y know I wish—Y know What hills9—what vales9—what grains of sand9 what oceans waves9—we knew of none we hadn t heard of good or bad we stayed mum But he—so flush with words kept burbling on It got so late we had to run to catch the ship And in that rush those bulging bags of bold desires and ardent loves—of dreams and joys were left behind the celestial throne' Translated by C M Nairn Annual of Urdu Studies #5 22