Delhis Poem by Ravikumar C.P.

Hindi Poem by Shalabh Sriram Singh
Translated by C.P. Ravikumar


When they paraded Dara Shikoh
On the naked back of an elephant
In its main streets
Delhi remained silent.

When Nadir Shah stood smiling
In a pool of blood
Delhi remained silent.

In front of the Red Fort
When a piece of flesh
From his own son
Was force-fed to Banda Bairagi
Delhi remained silent.

When Bahadur Shah Zafar
Was shackled
Or when Mir Ghalib abandoned her
Delhi remained silent.

To remain silent forever is what
Delhis of this world are for.
Perhaps in their solitude
There is no one, nothing, ever.