LIKE A MIRROR (Urdu version)
The two speakers face each other up close, like looking into
a mirror. To read the last line, both speakers face out to the audience.
The writing in italics is phonetics for the language of the
second speaker i.e. not English. There is a time line going down the page and
phrases on the same line are spoken at the same time. So words at the same
height are read at the same time! This is intentional.
First Speaker Second Speaker
We haven’t seen each other, ----------------------
In years and years… saal
or saalo mey
I see with different eyes ----------------------
---------------------------- mein
alag ankh sey deykhta hoo
I hear with different ears -------------------------
--------------------- mein
alag kaan sey soonta moon
Is it better, or… -------------------------
----------------- kya
yey zyada kharab hay?
------------------ zyada
acha hai?
Or is it crueller? --------------------
To be many zyada
Oh la la. Ohhh lala la. Oh
la la. Ohhh lala la.
La la sa la La
la sa la
Words: black, white, young, old, strong, weak, woman, man lafs: kaala, soofeyd,
jawan, boorha, bahadoor, kamzor, aurat, admi
Religion or no religion mazmab
ya nahi mazhag
Words seem different lafs
alag lagtey hain
Emotions seem the same -----------------------
----------------------------- ehsaas
ek hee hain
But we are one -------------------
--------------------- But
we are one
hum sub ek hain hum
sub ek hain
LIKE A MIRROR
The two speakers face each other up close, like looking into
a mirror. To read the last line, both speakers face out to the audience.
The writing in italics is meant to be translated into the
first (or second) language of the second speaker i.e. not English. There is a
time line going down the page and phrases on the same line are spoken at the
same time. So words at the same height are read at the same time!
First Speaker Second Speaker
We haven’t seen each other, ----------------------
In years and years… In years and years…
I see with different eyes ----------------------
---------------------------- I see with different eyes
I hear with different ears -------------------------
--------------------- I hear with different ears
Is it better, or… -------------------------
----------------- Is it worse?
------------------ Is it kinder?
Or is it crueller? --------------------
To be many To be
many
Oh la la. Ohhh lala la. Oh la la. Ohhh lala la.
La la sa la La la sa la
Words: black, white, young, old, strong, weak, woman, man Words: black, white, young, old, strong, weak, woman, man
Religion or no religion Religion or no religion
Words seem different Words
seem different
Emotions seem the same -----------------------
----------------------------- Emotions seem the same
But we are one -------------------
--------------------- But
we are one
But we are one But we are one.
NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE USED IS …………………………..
In years and years
I see with different eyes
I hear with different ears
Is it worse?
Is it kinder
To be many
Words: black, white, young, old, strong, weak, woman, man
Religion or no religion
Words seem different
Emotions seem the same
But we are one.
This was written at one of times when the media was trying to
scapegoat the local Muslim community for things they had no part in and did not
agree with. As happens a lot. I went to Muslim and non-Muslim bonding events. I
also wrote this poem to say that we are all humans together. The poem has words
which are a template. The template on its own is given at the end. The template
is translated into a non-English language and inserted into the poem. I have
done this for Urdu. It can also be done with French, Spanish, Kinyarwanda… Obviously
a lot of rehearsal is needed! The poem ends with the English speaker also
speaking words from the non-English language.
This poem can be used with any language using the template
to get phonetic alternatives. Using phonetics allows it to be performed by
anyone. I recommend that anywhere from two to five other languages are used. To
show the rich variety in our communities. So, the poem gets performed with
English and Urdu, then English and (say) French, then English and (say) Spanish…
Please use this poem at events with credit to me as author. No money needed.
Just, if you can, post a film of the event on You Tube and tell me about it.
If using four languages you can use the same English speaker
for all four variations. Or have a different one for each language. Whichever
works for you. If not using actors or poets, I am happy for amateur performers
to read the words off the page.
Here is my multi-voice site which
can help teach you about how to use multi-voice poetry: https://multivoicepoetry.wordpress.com/
Email me if you want any help.
Ashby McGowan
