Heavy White Clouds Are Gathering Fast... Poem by Mohammad Younus

Heavy white clouds are gathering fast over
...the sullen and dismal sky of the valley,
O children, do not go out!
The Chinar trees in rows standing...
...in the Nasimbagh ~ the Mughal Garden...
...located by the western side of the Dal lake...
...are blowing out the chilliest winds that freez...
...the blood streams of citizens,

The crows with their dragged wings...
...are repenting on the naked branches,
And the city around the lake is haunted...
...by a deepening gloom,
Our Jumma mosque is empty...
...the muazzin is calling in low voice,
The keys are lying with the Imam and...
...he is sleeping at home,
O children, wait here, till I wake up the imam...
...and bring him to the Masjid hall,
The namazis have opted to offer...
...their prayers in their homes,
For no congregational prayers can be...
...performed without an Imam,
Listen!
Someone is shouting from the patrolling...
...van on the Mike: 'O people, go home...
...don't crowd into the jumma market...
...to buy fish and your essentials, go home, '
People start escaping from the Jumma market...
...through the narrow and winding lanes;
The adjacent market square is overflooded...
...with para military forces for security and safety;
Even sparrows have stopped chirping
...and the little children stopped playing on roads,
The Jumma mosque is standing desolate...
...waiting for Imam to open the lock.

Mykoul