Neither doth any one here seek to avail himself of my abilities and experience,
Nor are the capabilities of this country’s people of any advantage unto me.
We converse together in one tongue-we speak the Pus’hto language;
But we do not, in the least, understand what we to one another say.
The Suwatis account themselves exceeding wise, whilst they are but fools;
And ’tis amongst such a set as these, that the Almighty my lot hath cast.
Now that I have beheld the Suwat valley, I have this much discovered,
That there is no tribe more abject and contemptible than the Yusufzis.
Tyranny and self-conceit seem to be the innate nature of all;
And every man amongst them is covetous and ready to beg.
Although, in their dwellings, they have wealth and goods, they are hungry-eyed;
And their head-men, than the rest, are more villainous and infamous still.
‘Tis said, that the water-melon deriveth its colour from the water-melon;
But their wise men and elders are more worthless than the people themselves.
The rights of the poor and helpless, they make out wrong and unjust,
If they can a single penny obtain by way of a present, or a bribe.
As to those I have seen myself-about others I am unable to speak
They are all either bullocks or skinners, without any exception soever.
Peregrinations such as these, in all countries, are by no means useless;
Since all the secrets regarding them became known unto me.
Now that Khushal hath smelt the earth of Suwat, and the Sama’h,
He knoweth, that a single faithful man will not, in them, be found.
(Khoshal Khan Khattak)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, God Poems, Wisdom & Knowledge Poems, People Poems, Secrets Poems, Fool Poems, Countries Poems, Present Poems, Tyranny & Despotism Poems, Language Poems, Experience PoemsBased on Keywords: self-conceit, villainous, pus, abilities, water-melon, capabilities, sama, hto, hungry-eyed, skinners