Ab Kis Se Kahain

Ab kis se kahain aur kaun sunay jo haal tumhaaray baad hua
Is dil ki jheel si aankhon mein ik khaab bohot barbaad hua

(Who do I turn to now [after you] that will listen to me, understand my pain, understand how my dream(s) suffered in my eyes after you left me)

Ye hijr hava bhi dushman hai us naam ke saaray rangon ki
Vo naam jo meray honton per khushbu ki tarah abaad hua
abaad = happily residing/living

(Even the wind that blows now is an enemy of the many colours that were spread on my lips when I would mention your name. It blows them all away with its breeze. It robs me of even the joy, the right, of being able to utter your name)

Is sheher mein kitnay chehray thay, kuch yaad nahin sab bhool gaye
Ik shakhs kitaabon jesa tha vo shakhs zabaani yaad hua
zabaani = from memory; memorized

(I've forgotten everyone that I've known or met. But there was one face that was wonderfully arranged, that used to engage me like a good book does, and that one face is all I remember now - it's like I've memorized that face)

Vo apnay gaaon ki galiyaan theen dil jin mein naachta gaata tha
Ab is se farq nahin parrta na-shaad hua ya shaad hua
shaad = happy

(My heart used to enjoy itself in familiar territories of my village [a seemingly lesser place]. My heart was at peace when it was where it belonged. Now that things have changed, it doesn't even matter if the heart is happy or not. Its happiness doesn't matter anymore)

Be-naam sataaish rehti thee un gehri saanvli aankhon mein
Aisa to kabhi socha bhi na tha dil ab jitna be-daad hua
be = without
sataaish = appreciation
daad = encouragement

(Those eyes, the eyes of my beloved, had appreciation for me -- for no reason. He/She would appreciate me just for existing. I had never thought that I would ever be so unapreciated, so unacknowledged, as I am today)

~ Noshi Gilani

Her Qadam Per

Her qadam per nit naye saanchay mein dhal jaatay hain log
Dekhtay he dekhtay itnay badal jaatay hain log
nit = new, unique
saancha = mold (noun)

(People mold themselves into different shapes, and change into something new all of a sudden)

Kis liye keejay kisi gum gushta jannat ki talaash
Jab ke mitti ke khilonon se behel jaatay hain log
gum gushta = lost

(There is no need to look for a long lost heaven, a peaceful abode to relax in, because people are easily pleased by simple things [they are easy to manipulate])

Kitnay saada-dil hain ab bhi sun ke avaaz-e-jaras
Pesh-o-pas se bekhabar ghar se nikal jaatay hain log
jaras = bell - In the olden days, people used to travel in groups, caravans, using animals as their modes of transportation. They would make stops on their way to their final destination. When the caravan would be ready to go after making a stop, the bell on animals on the front of the caravan would be rung, and that's how the rest of the caravan would know that they are about to leave. That bell is known as jaras.
pesh-o-pas = hesitation

(How simple minded are the people even now. When they get the sign to leave, they get up and leave. This is metaphoric, so use your imagination to give it your meaning)

Shamma ki maanind ehl-e-anjuman se beneyaaz
Aksar apni aag mein chup chaap jal jaatay hain log
ehl = family
anjuman = stars
beneyaaz = oblivious

(So even though there are stars on the sky to make light, the candle still lights up, to do the same thing that the stars are meant to do, i.e. making light. But in doing so, the candle melts with its own flame, failing to realize that its burning was meaningless, baseless)

Shayer un ki dosti ka ab bhi dam bhartay hain aap
Thokarain kha ker to suntay hain sambhal jaatay hain log
dam bharna = care for

(You're still caring for his/her friendship? I thought people became careful after getting hurt)

~ Himayat Ali Shayer

11.11.03

Corrected Version:

Umr bhar teri mohabbat meri khidmat gar rahi
Main teri khidmat ke qaabil jab hua tu chal basi

~ Allama Iqbal

* If anyone knows the full original poem, please let me know. 

Manzar Hai Vahi Thathak Rahi Hoon

Manzar hai vahi thathak rahi hoon
Hairat se palak jhapak rahi hoon

Yeh tu hai keh mera vehem hai
Band aankhon se tujh ko tak rahi hoon

Jaisay ke kabhi na tha ta'arruf
Yoon miltay huay jhijhak rahi hoon

Pehchaan main teri raushni hoon
Aur teri palak palak rahi hoon

Kiya chain mila hai sar jo us ke
Shaanon pe rakkhay sisak rahi hoon

Ik umr hui hai khud se lartay
Andar se tamaam thak rahi hoon

~ Parveen Shakir