Classic Poem

What though fed have I been on the salt of the Mogul's!
My heart is bursting with Aurung's scorn and evil treatment.
Unjustly into prison did he cast me for many years;
God knows what was my fault, of it no knowledge mine.
Black is the Mogul's heart towards all us Pathans,
Well am I acquainted with each one of their designs.
The true coin and the base to me are clearly known,
In their actions of their purport a touchstone true am I,
Was I an Eagle or a Falcon in the sight of Shahjehan,
That to Aurung as a Crow or Sparrow-hawk I should be?
The life that before it sees but its own dishonour,
He who leads it, at such a life astounded am I.
Fire take their titles and their service then I say,
Since in the Mogul's eyes and understanding I am despised;
Maddened now am I that my name and honour are in question,
Though no care is mine for the gain or loss of countless wealth.
Who with the greed of food rushes on the hook,
Think not that I am such a foolish fish.
No remedy is there for any one against Fate's decrees,
And yet I am more cautions than an old wolf.
To those who can discern I am as true as the ruddy golden mohar,
By the test of the undiscerning I am valued as a straw.
The world as yet knows nothing of my merits,
But I speak truth, as the apple of the eye am I;
Far greater my worth than the flowers of the Champu,
To the ignorant as the Sunflower devoid of scent I seem;
Like the falcon is my eye on noble quarry;
No Sparrow I that feeds on worms and grubs;
A Tiger I whose feast is on his victims;
No bullock I that grazes on the plains.
My beard is growing white, dear to me are faith and honour;
Were I to deal otherwise, a pitiable creature I should be.
If people turn their back on me, no care is mine;
For many have been blistered with my true speeches.
All that happens is by Fate, no profit in belief or knowledge,
Thus it is like a kite I am driven by the wind.
Every Pathan that takes the Mogul's service,
More experience mine than ever can be his.
When in the Mogul's service, my title was that of Lord:
Now that no title is mine, as an Angel free am I;
No care is mine for his decrees or his permission:
Praise be to God that my will is now my own!
No care is mine for his Court nor yet for Council;
No longer is my watch at his upstart nobles gates,
No witnessing, no signing, no reporting mine,
No care is mine for bonds or yet decrees.
Every fool that made me bow my head,
His head have I well bowed with blow of sword and mace.
If to the evil I am niggardly, what can they do me?
Like a bright star fortunate is my destiny;
Every day is to me a holiday of independence,
What though others weep? I am mad with joy.
Enough for a Pathan his rug and blanket;
No care is mine for couches or for cushions.
Freedom is mine, though plain and coarse my clothes;
Relieved now am I of velvet and of brocade;
A grass-built hut is now so dear to me,
I had rather be seated there than in Palaces of stone.
What though my food is only soup and curds?
With the wealth of the Moguls my chests are full.
The opposition which I have resolved it is for faith and honour:
Were I to waver in my design as a girl, I should be doomed.
By none have I been wounded, by guns or yet by arrows,
I that have been struck, by my own rifle has it been.
Cut to pieces are the Buttikheyls, who were as the pinions of my wings.
Now with the clipped wings of the Baraks is my flight;
The feathers of my flight have I shed like the Falcon,
Yet think not I am as a bat with no feather in my wings.
My true brothers indeed are the Turis, such is our relation,
From the Bolaks am I removed hardly a finger's breadth:
With lying deceitful words whose object is dissension,
They are betraying me, for they think me as a boy,
I spit upon the beards of every one amongst the Baraks,
And on my own too if of such am I.
This day has my tribe dealt very hardly with me,
But yet no yielding mine, whatever God's will may be;
On me have the Khataks turned their backs, for this may their faces be blackened!
For I alone am their champion, in the support of God is my trust:
Yet were there any ties of brotherhood or kindness betwixt us,
Great should be my hopes from the parentage of every one.
The Mohmunds should be the feet and hands to assist me as I am crippled;
Well pleased am I with support from the Afridis.
Many streams when joined together will make a river;
Now to all appearance I am helpless as a bubble.
There are the Karianrai and Sarbunni, many Pathans are there,
I, in the cause of honour, am associate with them all.
That so much favour has been accorded me by the Heavens.
Grateful indeed am I that such its decrees should have been;
For now my age is passed beyond three-score years and more,
Yet in pursuit of a foray as an Usbeg staunch am I.
It is for the Afghan honour that my sword I have bound beside me,
I Khush-hal Khatak am the only proud Afghan of the day!