Khalilullah Khalili Dies at 79; Afghan Poet and Ex-Official

Published: May 14, 1987Khalilullah Khalili, an Afghan poet and diplomat who had been living in exile since 1979, died on May 4 in Islamabad, Pakistan. He was 79 years old.

Mr. Khalili was a poet of international reputation, and many of his works were translated into English. He was the author of more than 50 works, including histories.

After the Communist takeover in Afghanistan, he became known as the poet of the Afghan resistance with the publication of his collection, ''Blood and Tears.'' His last volume of poetry, ''Nights of Exile,'' was published several months ago in Pakistan.

Mr. Khalili was born in Kabul. He was a professor of history and literature at Kabul University until 1949, when he became Minister of Information and Culture. He served in Parliament and in 1963 became a diplomat, serving abroad. He resigned after Soviet troops entered Afghanistan in 1979.

He spent several years in the United States, returning to Pakistan last year.

Mr. Khalil is survived by his wife, Fauzia, of Islamabad; four sons, Nejat of Maywood, N.J., Jarullah of Los Angeles, Motassim of Kabul and Massoud, a spokesman for the Jamiat Islami Resistance organization in Peshawar, Pakistan; four daughters, Marie Nasiri and Saleha Sarem of Maywood, Salma Yousufzai of Richmond and Batool Safi of Los Angeles

ساغر سرشار

نو بهار آمد و شد زنده جهان بار دگر

تو مرا زنده کن از ساغر سرشار دگر

تا بود فصل گل و صحبت ساقی هر گز

نروم جای دگر من نکنم کار دگر

من به یک زخم تو ای چرخ نیفتم از پای

گر بود عمر ببینیم به پیکار دگر

نقش گیتی همه واژون شده دستی از غیب

که کشد نقش دگر باز به پرگار دگر

روزگاری ست که شد قصۀ منصور از یاد

نشنیدیم اناالحق ز سر دار دگر

گرهی چند فزودند بر این رشته دریغ

حل دشوار نمودند به دشوار دگر

هیچ کس بار غم از خاطر من دور نکرد

بر سر بار نهادند همان بار دگر