special intro

Special introduction

Yasmin Habib Yasmin Habib is a published author who writes in Urdu and English language. Her poetry book titled “Asaib Se Parchaeen Tak” (1996) was published by AL Hamd Publishers Lahore Pakistan. Yasmin pens poetry as well as short stories. Her poetry is known for its depth and vision and her short stories acclaimed for surreal experimental monologue. Many established and reputable writers have appreciated Yasmin’s creative talents and have commented very positively about her poems as well as short stories. Her English poetry has been included in Dances in the moonlight (2000) and The best poems and poets of 2001 by The International Library of Poetry. She has also been presented with The Editor’s Choice Award in April 2002. More recently her poem …in a flash written specifically for an event has been distributed in all the schools for inspirational purposes by the Head of the Education. She is also engaged in promoting the poems written in the West for the Urdu language readers by translating works of Ted Hughes and Silvia Plaith into Urdu and also translating the modern poetry created in Urdu into English language to give a common sense of direction to the diversity of culture and heritage. In this issue Unquote proudly includes a few of her English poems for their readers.

Parting

It was so painful then

its as much hurting today Leaning against the stumps of unspoken words Seeking sanctuary in silence Blending in with the coldest of moments like a hard biting frost Maintaining a non - existent distance two breathing beings embarked on their separate journeys Walking backwards with their eyes nailed upon each others faces Seemingly moving away It still is hurting today © Yasmin Habib

......cloning

I have cloned the dream that now seems no more for just in case I one day realise my dream can breathe © Yasmin Habib

Prohibited Probe

If I had a question I would have asked Is life treating you all right? Do you have peaceful or restless nights? Do you dream or sleep at all? wait in vain for someone to call? When you retire to go to bed is there an echo of my voice in your head? Wondering about the why and the how do you talk with your pillow? If I had a question I would have asked Are you happy where ever you are? or do you keep thinking about me from afar? Are you lonely at times in your heart? hurting in some way that we are apart? Are you being haunted by the memories of the past? have you come to terms with the consequences at last? Or may be indeed does your heart ever bleed? If I had a question I would have asked Have you achieved something or have you lost? are you sad for the sheer cost? Are you enjoying each moment each season? are you smiling just for a reason sailing with the tide and someone has had you for a ride? Are you a puppet in a mask, your strings being pulled for a pretentious task? If I had a question I would have asked Do you see a familiar face in your mind? or have you gone emotionally blind? Are you being honest with yourself and kind still looking for the one who is left behind? Are you crying standing in the rain? are you besides yourself with the pain? Do you miss me much so much longing for my tender touch? If I had a question I would have asked. © Yasmin Habib

Finders keepers!

Its hard so hard to comprehend that each little tale doesn’t have a happy ending questions remain un-answered ever pending one does need to pretend one does need to pretend past doesn’t matter anymore paths cross just for a while leaving behind the embers of memories etching upon the frozen time a warm glowing smile a warm glowing smile the smile of content all puzzles in the maze of life are solved search is over, tears dried lost pieces found, the gaps abridged lost pieces found, the gaps abridged heart implies its there for good prudence compels it needs to be understood finders may not necessarily always be the keepers logic prevails, grief deepens logic prevails, grief deepens hurt mourns each grave of shattered dreams pondering along a twisted street to forget or to believe moments that deemed right soul screams ever after, every day and every night Its hard so hard to comprehend

© Yasmin Habib

…be seeing you Here we are once again in presence of each other confined in our imaginary boundaries struggling with emotions wrapped in frozen thawing warmth pretty tense but at ease talking about almost everything on earth the weather, climate, poverty and dearth but nothing about us with the shallow exchange of words eyes wondering everywhere engaged in reading all all that is in mind closing windows hidden behind the curtains in an effort to stop the tender breeze rich with the spectres of past memories concede at last indulging in cold casual meaningless customary communication “Hello” “all right” “best wishes” “take care” further empty gesture “thanks so much” “will be in touch” going to lengths concealing pain here we are once again

© Yasmin Habib

Where now?

Where now from here? I was supposed to move on the moment of despair was meant to be forgotten the days were hoped bright with sunshine the nights were imagined with stars that were mine the time was to change yet its strange I am still there Where now from here? I’m hurt so ever more time seems to stand still its pin drop silence I can hear and count my each breath how far will I go till I find the strength and walk away from my own emotional kill Where now from here? © Yasmin Habib

….sometimes

sometimes I feel that you and I are the un-finished film in a camera searching perhaps a lost frame to be complete! sometimes it seems there is no beauty around to astound my grieving heart bleeding with the pain finding hard to accept the fact that we are apart the curtain was drawn the very moment when you were gone how in vain sometimes I am sure I’ll be strong to endure letting bygones be bygones till that beautiful new dawn when I will have moved on sometimes I wonder will it one day be true I shall get over you yet a question remains will either of us ever be complete

© Yasmin Habib

…stakes If only one could talk Using words said not before Playing mind games no more Half past something ticks away In early hours’ pitch dark Just a few moments to a new dawn Another night would soon be gone Yet as usual still awake One goes through the same ritual A strife to rearrange pawns Upon the chessboard of life Since all their hands Have always been played for them Own turns are awaited endlessly Tears stare at the pawns Eyes heavy with yawns The pitch dark moments before the dawn Conceal a battle again Dreams versus stakes © Yasmin Habib

.... in a flash

not a few, not several we counted thousands it rained bodies on Nine Eleven they had names they had dreams they had hopes they had future they were gone in a flash we all watched in a horror we are still in a trance we have cried so much we can cry no more can it happen by chance can we change the stance can we bring them back who had names who had dreams who had hopes who had future who were gone in a flash one dreads to imagine if it carries on it will not be long

before we shall too all be gone in a flash © Yasmin Habib abacus nine eleven seven seven number thirty fifty plus numerals or life! what a strife is it arithmetic! a lesson of maths! saddened by the sheer thought how many more shall I count holding on to my last tear how long for shall I live in a fear will it ever stop!

I am a human a person a being "I think therefore I am" I breathe the same air I bleed the same blood I hurt, I feel, I cry in the same way as you do I have friends a family, a clan a home to go to --- if I can Isn't world big enough for you and I for all of us we the mankind!!