Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, born Ahmad Shah Awan, (November 20, 1916 – July 10, 2006), was an Urdu and English language Pakistani poet, journalist, literary critic, dramatist and short story author.
Qasmi wrote 50 books on topics such as poetry, fiction, criticism, journalism and art, and was a major figure in contemporary Urdu literature. He was also editor and publisher of the literary magazine Funoon for almost half a century. He received awards such as the Pride of Performance in 1968 and Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 1980 for his literary work.
THOUGHT
Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi
In the deep silence of nights
when the moon is drowsy
and flower-laden branches
rock a lullaby —
dissolved in the lake’s mirror
when stars still their motion
each tree becomes an etching
and each flower a mystery —
And from dust to sky
when time curves visibly
between my thought and Allah
lie years of trenched silence —
over my sizzling body
someone sprinkles dew
from His invisible height
it seems, calling out my name