The Ocean Wave

THE OCEAN WAVE

Introduction
Dynamism is one of the important subjects in Allamah Iqbal's teachings. "Ocean waves" is one of the metaphors he uses for dynamism, as in this poem. The poem shows how restless a dynamic person is when he is deprived of the opportunities for action. This is shown in the climax of the poem in the last verse.

Translation
My impatient heart keeps me relentlessly restless
Like mercury agitation is the essence of life to me

Wave is my name, the sea is fordable to me
The whirlpool's circle would never be a chain to me

My steed speeds in the water like wind
The fishing tackle has never caught my skirt

Sometimes I jump up due to attraction of the full moon¹
Sometimes in excitement I strike my head on the shore

I am the traveller who loves destination
Someone should ask me why I always jump

Fleeing from the discomfort of the narrow river I am
Upset by separation from the ocean's vastness I am