अमृता प्रीतम Amrita Pritam ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਾ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ

An autobiographical poem that uses the metaphor of cigarette smoking. To a contemporary mind, such a metaphor maybe negative, even disgusting. However, during her time, smoking among women in India was seen as a sign of rebellion against the tradition bound elders. Amrita views the metaphor simply as way to express her mind's fire, and she was fully aware of it's rebellious nature since she was often criticised for smoking and drinking in public. 

अमृता प्रीतम 

एक दर्द था

जो सिगरट की तरह मैंने चुप चाप पिया है

सिर्फ़ कुछ नज्में हैं 

जो सिगरट से मैंने राख़ की तरह झाड़ी हैं 

Amrita Pritam

Pain:
          I inhaled it
          quietly
          like a cigarette

A few poems:
          I flicked off
          like ashes
          from the cigarette

ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਾ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ 

ਇਕ ਦਰਦ ਸੀ --

ਜੋ ਸਿਗਰਟ ਦੀ ਤਰਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਚੁਪ ਚਾਪ ਪੀਤਾ ਹੈ

ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਕੁਝ ਨਜ਼ਮਾਂ ਹਨ --

ਜੋ ਸਿਗਰਟ ਦੇ ਨਾਲੋਂ ਮੈਂ ਰਾਖ ਵਾਂਗਣ ਝਾੜੀਆਂ