Taufiq Rafat

Taufiq Rafat (25 October 1927 – 2 August 1998), was a Pakistani author and poet. His work influenced other Pakistani poets and he is credited with the introduction of the concept of a "Pakistani idiom" in English literature.[1][2]

Taufiq Rafat
Born(1927-10-25)25 October 1927
Sialkot
Died2 August 1998(1998-08-02) (aged 71)
Lahore
OccupationAuthor

Rafat conducted poetry workshops, which influenced many younger poets.[3]

After surviving a stroke in 1984 he did not take to write until his death after 14 years in 1998 in Lahore at the age of 71.[1]

Examples of Poems written by him

Children Understand Him

Here the poet realizes the life of Old Man. A young grandfather of three grandchildren(2 sons, 1 daughter) of his son. The metaphor here is used 'Otherwise he is a Dry Stream Bed' which means once his(old man/grandfather) life ran like a river or stream and now it is dry. It means when he was young, he used to live like other young man. Further is written 'Living on Memories' which means He is now living on memories. And further it is written that 'And the hospitality Now given, revoked Of his sons and daughters' which means when the guest arrive, he(old man/grandfather) sent to his room because of many causes such as because he may bore new guests on stories of his life and wherever he will go, children will follow him. Further, here is 'From man-roar, and friendly' which means They(grandchildren) give friendly punches on his(grandfather)'s chest. 'And damp kisses on scrubbed cheeks, They sail to the harbour of his knees' which means that he(old man) gives damp kisses to their grandchildren, ever that are dirty. And grandchildren feel safe on his(old man) knees.

References
  1. Rahman, Tariq. "Tuafiq Rafat". Retrieved 19 July 2015. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Alamgir Hashmi, "Prolegomena to the Study of Pakistani English and Pakistani Literature in English", in: Major Minorities: English Literatures in Transit, 1993, ISBN 9051835590, p. 104
  3. Interpreting Homes in South Asian Literature, p.257

Poems


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