The Drunkard’s Wife

What it happens on her, none but a drunkard’s wife Can only tell about, The experiences of her life, What it undergoes on her, How the emotions and feelings of hers To bear the brunt of! Sometimes comes he singing a ghazal, Sometimes sobs and weeps he within himself Like a simple child, Sometimes engaged in a brawl, an altercation Outside the family, Breaking down before her With the open mouth, Sometimes flanking the friends, I mean the bottle-takers, He going hand-in-hand, hand-in-glove, Shoulder over shoulder, The same old friends Returning with drunken capers and bouts. Always promising, always saying it that he will not touch Wine again, ready to bid goodbye to it, But takes he again, Forgets he the promise While stepping outside the house, As the friends make him drink, Break the promise And he fails to keep up the words given To his wife, daughter and son, Touching their heads and saying, Saying it that he will not again, But comes he drunk again As he cannot shun addiction. When finds he not money, asks he his wife to give, Wherefrom to bring, This he will not take to, She has to give to anyhow And if his hand is short of money, He may sell the lantern, The things of the house, The plates and dishes Whatever finds he, He can mortgage the ornaments, Lands and properties or pleasure sake.