Translation: Lohe Ka Swad (The Taste of Iron)

The Taste of Iron 
by Hussain Haidry

(A loose translation)

A blacksmith after reading 
Sudama Pandey “Dhoomil’s” poem
"The taste of Iron"
went straight to a stable,
and started asking the horses
"what's the taste of iron?"

Some, neighing, said:
a bit bland
a bit hot
a bit bitter

some, tapping their feet, said:
like spit
like blood
like pus

Some, pulling on the bridle, said:
of enslavement
of helplessness
of anger

The horses started shouting
over one another
causing a ruckus in the stable

The blacksmith picked up a hammer
hit a horse on the head
and asked,
in the ensuing silence:

“OK, now tell me,
in soft voice,
in clear language,
peacefully, and lovingly,
in one voice,
what's the taste of iron”

--
 

Hussain Haidry is a well known poet, lyricist, and a prominent voice on Twitter. Please follow him on Twitter(@hussainhaidry) if you don't already. 

Hussain's original hindi poem can be found at the link below, and I'd urge you to read it, if you know Hindi. I'm, at best, an amateur at translation, and the poem reads much better in Hindi. 

The poem title is based on these lines from Dhoomil’s eponymous poem: 

लोहे का स्वाद लोहार से मत पूछो, 
उस घोड़े से पूछो जिसके मुंह में लगाम है

“Don’t ask the blacksmith the taste of iron 
ask the horse who carries the bridle in its mouth”

https://rajkamalbooks.wordpress.com/2020/07/15/hussainhaidrypoems/