Let this scorched heart be left sun-dried in your lawn, cheer up Let a strolling glance lure you at the dawn, cheer up A wandering wish is a puff, knows no measures Let the loyal chained dog bark at the fawn, cheer up Beside the stone, sow a good seed of thy title Let the spring celebrate the days bygone, cheer up Seal the verbal hearth of metallic mirth from here Let orators at the back only yawn, cheer up The salt of the sky sings in the summer in Vale Let the rush unfold the curtain long drawn, cheer up Erase the golden verses of the bards, can you? Let the reed be shelved on the ruined barn, cheer up Stay at sand beds with a broken finger someday Let the Fate on the floor move on its pawn, cheer up © Mushtaque B. Barq
Mushtaque B. Barq is a columnist besides a poet and short story writer. His earlier translation work: 'Mystic Voices of Kashmir' was published by Jay Kay Books. His poetic collection is available on Poetry Soup and PoemHunter.com. He teaches English Literature and is associated with various literary clubs and forums. The author was awarded 'Editor's Choice Award' for outstanding achievement in poetry presented by Poetry.com and International Library of Poetry in 2007. In 2017, the author was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of his poetry being published in 'The Criterion: An International Journal in English', February 2017 and September 2018. The Author's publications are available in New Age Islam, Shabnama.faiz-e-sabaan-org., Kashmir Lit (On line journal of Kashmir and Diaspora writing) and The Tibet Journal. The Author is a regular columnist for Daily Kashmir Images, his column 'Creative Beats' is a regular feature of his writing. He has written a collection of short stories, 'Shades and Shadows', a novel and translated version of Sochkral, a Sufi poet of Kashmir, translated version of Veshi Syed's Urdu short stories, Kashmiri Wanton translated in English and 'Withered Pearls', an anthology of poems. The author has contributed a chapter: 'Location Tibet, Dalai Lama Lineage' and 'Tibetan Muslims: A Brief Commentary in Tibetan Refugees in India.' The author was awarded 'The Alamdar Award' for his translations.