1. Special introduction
Yasmin Habib
Yasmin Habib is a published author who writes in Urdu and English language. Her poetry book titled
“Asaib Se Parchaeen Tak” (1996) was published by AL Hamd Publishers Lahore Pakistan. Yasmin
pens poetry as well as short stories. Her poetry is known for its depth and vision and her short stories
acclaimed for surreal experimental monologue.
Many established and reputable writers have appreciated Yasmin’s creative talents and have
commented very positively about her poems as well as short stories.
Her English poetry has been included in Dances in the moonlight (2000) and The best poems and
poets of 2001 by The International Library of Poetry. She has also been presented with The Editor’s
Choice Award in April 2002. More recently her poem …in a flash written specifically for an event
has been distributed in all the schools for inspirational purposes by the Head of the Education.
She is also engaged in promoting the poems written in the West for the Urdu language readers by
translating works of Ted Hughes and Silvia Plaith into Urdu and also translating the modern poetry
created in Urdu into English language to give a common sense of direction to the diversity of culture
and heritage.
In this issue Unquote proudly includes a few of her English poems for their readers.

2. Parting
It was so painful then
its as much hurting today
Leaning against the stumps
of unspoken words
Seeking sanctuary in silence
Blending in with the coldest of moments
like a hard biting frost
Maintaining a non - existent distance
two breathing beings
embarked on their separate journeys
Walking backwards
with their eyes nailed upon each others faces
Seemingly moving away
It still is hurting today
© Yasmin Habib
......cloning
I have cloned the dream
that now seems no more
for just in case
I one day realise
my dream can breathe
© Yasmin Habib

3. Prohibited Probe
If I had a question
I would have asked
Is life treating you all right?
Do you have peaceful or restless nights?
Do you dream or sleep at all?
wait in vain for someone to call?
When you retire to go to bed
is there an echo of my voice in your head?
Wondering about the why and the how
do you talk with your pillow?
If I had a question
I would have asked
Are you happy where ever you are?
or do you keep thinking about me from afar?
Are you lonely at times in your heart?
hurting in some way that we are apart?
Are you being haunted by the memories of the past?
have you come to terms with the consequences at last?
Or may be indeed
does your heart ever bleed?
If I had a question
I would have asked
Have you achieved something or have you lost?
are you sad for the sheer cost?
Are you enjoying each moment each season?
are you smiling just for a reason
sailing with the tide
and someone has had you for a ride?
Are you a puppet in a mask,
your strings being pulled for a pretentious task?
If I had a question
I would have asked
Do you see a familiar face in your mind?
or have you gone emotionally blind?
Are you being honest with yourself and kind
still looking for the one who is left behind?
Are you crying standing in the rain?
are you besides yourself with the pain?
Do you miss me much so much
longing for my tender touch?
If I had a question
I would have asked.
© Yasmin Habib

4. Finders keepers!
Its hard so hard to comprehend
that each little tale
doesn’t have a happy ending
questions remain un-answered ever pending
one does need to pretend
one does need to pretend
past doesn’t matter anymore
paths cross just for a while
leaving behind the embers of memories
etching upon the frozen time
a warm glowing smile
a warm glowing smile
the smile of content
all puzzles in the maze of life are solved
search is over, tears dried
lost pieces found, the gaps abridged
lost pieces found, the gaps abridged
heart implies its there for good
prudence compels it needs to be understood
finders may not necessarily always be the keepers
logic prevails, grief deepens
logic prevails, grief deepens
hurt mourns each grave of shattered dreams
pondering along a twisted street
to forget or to believe
moments that deemed right
soul screams ever after, every day and every night
Its hard so hard to comprehend

5. © Yasmin Habib
…be seeing you
Here we are once again
in presence of each other
confined in our imaginary boundaries
struggling with emotions
wrapped in frozen thawing warmth
pretty tense but at ease
talking about almost everything on earth
the weather, climate, poverty and dearth
but nothing about us
with the shallow exchange of words
eyes wondering everywhere
engaged in reading all
all that is in mind
closing windows hidden behind the curtains
in an effort to stop
the tender breeze
rich with the spectres of past
memories concede at last
indulging in cold casual meaningless
customary communication
“Hello” “all right” “best wishes” “take care”
further empty gesture
“thanks so much” “will be in touch”
going to lengths concealing pain
here we are once again

6. © Yasmin Habib
Where now?
Where now from here?
I was supposed to move on
the moment of despair
was meant to be forgotten
the days were hoped bright with sunshine
the nights were imagined
with stars that were mine
the time was to change
yet its strange
I am still there
Where now from here?
I’m hurt so ever more
time seems to stand still
its pin drop silence
I can hear and count my each breath
how far will I go
till I find the strength
and walk away from my own emotional kill
Where now from here?
© Yasmin Habib

7. ….sometimes
sometimes I feel
that you and I
are the un-finished film in a camera
searching perhaps
a lost frame
to be complete!
sometimes it seems
there is no beauty around
to astound
my grieving heart
bleeding with the pain
finding hard to accept
the fact that we are apart
the curtain was drawn
the very moment when you were gone
how in vain
sometimes I am sure
I’ll be strong to endure
letting bygones be bygones
till that beautiful new dawn
when I will have moved on
sometimes I wonder
will it one day be true
I shall get over you
yet a question remains
will either of us
ever be complete

8. © Yasmin Habib
…stakes
If only one could talk
Using words said not before
Playing mind games no more
Half past something ticks away
In early hours’ pitch dark
Just a few moments to a new dawn
Another night would soon be gone
Yet as usual still awake
One goes through the same ritual
A strife to rearrange pawns
Upon the chessboard of life
Since all their hands
Have always been played for them
Own turns are awaited endlessly
Tears stare at the pawns
Eyes heavy with yawns
The pitch dark moments before the dawn
Conceal a battle again
Dreams versus stakes
© Yasmin Habib

9. .... in a flash
not a few, not several
we counted thousands
it rained bodies on Nine Eleven
they had names
they had dreams
they had hopes
they had future
they were gone in a flash
we all watched in a horror
we are still in a trance
we have cried so much
we can cry no more
can it happen by chance
can we change the stance
can we bring them back
who had names
who had dreams
who had hopes
who had future
who were gone in a flash
one dreads to imagine
if it carries on
it will not be long

10. before we shall too
all be gone in a flash
© Yasmin Habib
abacus
nine eleven
seven seven
number thirty
fifty plus
numerals or life!
what a strife
is it arithmetic!
a lesson of maths!
saddened by the sheer thought
how many more
shall I count
holding on to my last tear
how long for
shall I live in a fear
will it ever stop!
I am a human
a person
a being
"I think therefore I am"
I breathe
the same air
I bleed
the same blood
I hurt, I feel, I cry
in the same way
as you do
I have friends
a family, a clan
a home
to go to --- if I can
Isn't world big enough
for you and I
for all of us
we the mankind!!

11. my mind
still on the abacus
is counting now
the moments to peace
let me live --- please
© yasmin habib