Sessions of Sweet, Silent Thought: Selected Poems of Parveen Shakir

Some of the most striking poetry from Pakistan has come from the women poets. These poets are bold in their apprehension and expression; they create a new canon, and make way for new parameters of reading. Parveen Shakir’s poetry is as much of a treat in English translations as it is in the Urdu original. These translations bear the experiential burden of the poet and they represent the distinct tones of her voice, as all good translations must do. Here is Parveen Shakir in her true incarnation for the readers in English.