Kaheen Tum Apni Qismat

Kaheen tum apni qismat ka likha tabdeel ker lete

To shayed hum bhi apna raasta tabdeel ker lete

Agar hum waqayee kam hausla hotay mohabbat mein

Marz barhnay se pehlay he dava tabdeel ker lete

Tumhaaray saath chalnay per jo dil raazi nahin hota

Bohot pehlay he hum apna faisla tabdeel ker lete

Tumhain in mausamon ki kiya khabar milti agar hum bhi

Ghutan ke khauf se aab-o-hava tabdeel ker lete

Tumhari tarah jeenay ka hunar aata to phir shayed

Makaan apna vohi rakhtay, pata tabdeel kar lete

~Unknown

Explanation

Hi guys,

Long time no see eh -- well, on my part. I've just been busy with work lately, so couldn't even get myself to update the blog. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy the poem I'm going to post next.

Take care,

~a

Tanhaayee ka Dukh

Sher

Us ne aanchal se nikaali meri gum gushta beyaaz

Aur chupke se mohabbat ka varaq mor diya

Hum ko maaloom tha anjaam-e-mohabbat, hum ne

Aakhri harf se pehle he qalam tor diya

Bebasi!

Ok peoples, this is serious!

Now how the hell do I change fonts and colours here? And yes, I know the most basic route... but IT'S NOT WORKING! The changes I'm making in font sizes and colours aren't staying.

What do I do?

Aandhi Chali to Naqsh-e-kaf-e-paa Nahin Mila

Sheeshoo.n ka Maseeha

Moti ho keh sheesha, jaam keh durr
Jo toot gaya, so toot gaya
Kab ashko.n say jurr sakta hai
Jo toot gaya, so choot gaya

Tum naahaq tukray chun chun kar
Daman mei.n chupaaye baithay ho
Sheesho.n ka maseeha koi nahin
Kiya aas lagaaye baithay ho

Shaayed keh inhi.n tukro.n mai.n kahi.n
Vo saaghir-e-dil hai jis mei.n kabhi
Sad naaz say utra karti thi
Sehbaay-e-gham-e-jaanaa.n ki pari

Phir duniya vaalo.n nay tum say
Yeh saaghar lay kar phorr diya
Jo maiy thi, baha di mitti mei.n
Mehma.n ka shehpar tor diya

Yeh rangeen rezay hai.n shayad
Un shokh bilori.n sapno.n kay
Tum mast jawani mai.n jin say
Khalwat ko sajya kartay thay

Nadari, daftar bhook aur gham
In sapno.n say takratey rahey
Be reham tha chomukh pathrao
Yeh kaanch kay dhanchay kiya kartay

Ya shayad in zarro.n mai.n kahi.n
Moti hai tumhari izzat ka
Voh jis say tumharay ijz par
Shamshad qadro.n nay raksh kiya

Is mal ki dhun mai.n phirtay thay
Tajir bhi buhat, rehzun bhi kai
Hai chor nagar, yaa.n muflis ki
Gar jan bachi tou aan gai

Yeh saghar sheeshay laal-o-guhr
Salim hoo to qeemat patay hai.n
Yu.n tukray tukray hoo to faqt
Chubtay hai.n, lahoo rulwatay hai.n

Tum nahaq tukray chun chun kar
Daman mai.n chupaye baithay ho
Sheesho.n ka maseeha koi nahi
Kia aas lagaye baithay ho

Yadoo.n kay garebano.n kay rafo
Par dil ki guzr kab hoti hai
Ik bakhia udhaira, aik siya
Yu.n umr basr kab hoti hai

Is kar geh hasti mai.n jaha.n
Yeh saghar sheeshay dhaltay hai.n
Har shay ka badal mil sakta hai
Sub daman pur ho saktay hai.n

Jo hath barhay yawar hai yeha.n
Jo aankh uthay, wo bakhtawar
Ya.n dhan dolat ka ant nahi
Ho.n ghat mai.n lakh daku magar

Kab loot jhapat say hasti ki
Dukanai.n khali hoti hai.n

Ya.n parbat parbat heeray hai.n
Ya.n sagar sagar moti hai.n

Kuch log hai.n jo is daulat par
Parday lutkaye phirtay hai.n
Har parbat ko, har sagar ko
Neelam charhaye phirtay hai.n

Kuch wo bhi hai.n jo lar bhar kar
Yeh parday noch giratay hai.n
Hasti ki uthai geero.n ki
Har chal uljhaye jatey hai.n

In dono.n mai.n run parta hai
Nit basti basti, nagar nagar
Har basti ghar kay seenay mai.n
Har chalti rah kay mathay par

Yeh kalak bhartay phirtay hai.n
Voh jot lagatay phirtay hai.n
Yeh aag lagatay phirtay hai.n
Voh aag bujhatay phirtay hai.n

Sab saghar sheeshy, laal-o-guhr
Is bazi mai.n bid jatay hai.n
Utho sab khali hatho.n
Us ran say bulawey atay hai.n

~ Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Mohabbat Ho Bhi Sakti Thi

Jo kuch din saath reh letay

Jo kuch din baat ho jaati

Manaanay, rooth jaanay ka agar yeh silsila rehta

To phir jaanaa.n

Mohabbat ho bhi sakti thee

~ Faakhra Batool

Tajaahil-e-Aarifaana

Johri ko kiya maaloom kis tarah ki mitti mein kesay phool hotay hain

Kis tarah ke phoolon mein

Kesi baas hoti hai

Johri ko kiya maaloom

Johri to saari umr pattharon mein rehta hai

Zar-garon mein rehta hai

Johri ko kiya maaloom

Yeh to bus vohi jaanay

Jis ne apni mitti se

Apna aik ik paimaa.n

Istevaar rakkha ho

Jis ne harf-e-paimaa.n ka etebaar rakkha ho

Johri ko kiya maaloom kis tarah ki mitti mein kesay phool hotay hain

Kis tarah ke phoolon mein

Kesi baas hoti hai

~ Iftikhar Arif

johri = one who deals with precious stones; jeweller

baas = smell

zar-gar = someone who deals with wealth and financial matters/money related issues

paimaa.n = promise; word

istevaar = continued; kept; maintained

etebaar = trust (but in this poem, it's taken to mean "honour" [verb])

Vohi Iztiraab-e-Firaaq

Vohi iztiraab-e-firaaq hai, vohi ishtiyaaq-e-visaal hai

Teri justuju mein jo haal tha, tujhay paa ke bhi vohi haal hai

iztiraab = extreme restlessness

firaaq = separation

ishtiyaaq = eagerness

visaal = union

justuju = desire

Na maal-e-zeest ki fikr hai, na tabaahiyon ka kheyaal hai

Mujhay sirf is ka malaal hai, keh tumhain bhi mera malaal hai

maal = money (or anything that has value)

zeest = life

tabaahiyon = disasters

malaal = sorrow

Teri aarzu ka he faiz hai, teri yaad he ka kamaal hai

Kabhi mujh ko tera kheyaal tha, magar aaj apna kheyaal hai

faiz = benefit

kamaal = miracle

Nahin koi rahnuma to kiya, hai khilaaf saari fiza to kiya

Mujhay fikr-e-sood-o-ziyaa.n ho kiyoon, teri yaad shaamil-e-haal hai

rahnuma = leader

sood = interest; benefit

ziyaa.n = loss

Mera haal aaj zuboo.n hai kiyoon, mera dard aaj fuzoo.n hai kiyoon

Mere meherbaa.n mere chaaragar, teri aabru ka savaal hai

zuboo.n = bad condition; lowest of lows

fuzoo.n = visible, bright

chaaragar = friend; he who listens

aabru = respect; reputation

~ Qabil Ajmeeri

Dropping By

Hey guys,

I was just gonna post the entry for today, but I felt I owed you guys an explanation for the long leave. I'm perfectly fine, and thankfully so is my laptop. I was just not into the groove of things lately.

Fall is usually hard on me, and so is early winter...I think this is a very depressing time of the year. And then since my mom's death anniversary is coming up too, I'm just not my usual self. From the 16th of Ramadan (since that's the lunar date of her death) till the 11th of November (the Gregorian date), I relive her death and the days leading up to it again and again, whether I want to or not.

Anyway, I'll try my best to get back to being regular here. I hope you continue to give my collection a read.

Take care,

A

Hum Keh Thehre Ajnabi

Twistedness of Life

Ab us ko kho raha hoon baray ishtiyaaq se
Vo jis ko dhoondnay mein zamaana laga mujhay

Is Se Pehlay Keh

Eid Mubarak

Dearest friends,

I wish you and your loved ones an amazing Eid.

Ambri (Mother) by Anwar Masood

"7 saal ho gaye? Dekho pata bhi nahin chala"
Of course aap ko pata nahin chala. Mujhay to pata chala. Her us vaqt jab koi chot lagi, pata chala. Jab jab koi takleef hui, pata chala. Jab jab dil dukha, pata chala. Her us mor per jab logon ne saath chora, pata chala. Aap ko bhala kesay pata chalta, zindagi to meri thee. Mujhay pata chala. Her pal pata chala.

Ab Jo Bikhray

Ab jo bikhray to bikharnay ki shikayat kesi
Khushk patton ki havaaon se rafaaqat kesi

Main ne her daur mein insaa.n se mohabbat ki hai
Jurm sangeen hai phir is mein riayat kesi

Aik patta bhi juda jab shaakh se hota hai
Kiya kahoon dil pe guzarti hai qayamat kesi

Zindagi tujh ko to lamhon ka safar jaana tha
Raah mein aa gayee saddiyon ki musaafat kesi

~Unknown

News Update

Hello good people with impeccable taste in Urdu poetry!

Hope you're all doing great. I just wanted to inform you that I'm leaving for London today. So I won't be able to post new stuff until I come back, which will be the 12th of August. 

Ab aap sab se vaapsi per mulaqaat ho gee. Tab tak aap Rida Sahiba aur Raheem Shahzad Sahab ki collections se lutf andoz hon.

Since I won't be here to wish you at the appropriate time, I'll wish you early for a blessed Ramadan. I hope we can gain maximum benefits from this holy month. Kahin parha tha keh jab insaan se namaaz qaza ho jaati hai to vo sochta hai keh mujhay vaqt nahin mil saka, is liye qaza ho gayee. Per agar ghaur karain, aisi kaunsi khata ho gayee keh us parvardigaar ne us insaan ko apnay aagay khara karna pasand nahin farmaaya? 

Ab hamain mauqa mila hai keh ziyada se ziyada ibaadat kar ke apnay liye kuch bhalayee kar lain. Khuda hum sab ko naik taufeeq aur hidayat ata farmaaye, Ameen.

So take care and keep me in your prayers. 

~ A

Hamain Tum Se

Hamain Justuju-e-Khaab

Hamain justuju-e-khaab ne sonay nahin diya
Ik najf-e-aarzu ko bhi khonay nahin diya
jusutju = search
najaf = (I don't have a clue!)

This poem is full of oxymoron-ish sentiments; a real contradiction between desires felt and steps taken in response to those desires. The desires represent a very average human predisposition (i.e no human is above certain wishes), whereas the actions show a solid command on the feelings. The poet is trying to show that sometimes we might now have any control on our thoughts, but we can definitely dictate our responses to these thoughts, portraying a very powerful aspect of human control.

(In this sher, the poet starts with dream. She says: my desire to dream was so overwhelming that it prevented me from falling asleep. I had a very negligible grip on a desire, but even with that I managed to hold on to my desire, my dream)

Ik aah-o-fughaa.n dil mein ajab shor kiye thee
Per chashm-e-tamanna ko bhigonay nahin diya
aah-o-fughaa.n = wail
chashm = sight
tamanna = khaahish

(My heart was in pain, whining and wailing, but I didn't let that pain turn into tears)

Taskheer-e-kaainaat ki koshish mein thay magan
Dil ko aseer-e-aashiyaa.n honay nahin diya
taskheer = conquer; to overcome
kaainaat = universe
magan = deeply involved [in doing something]
aseer = one who desires something which impressed him/her
aashiyaa.n = home

(I was deeply involved in trying to conquer the world, but I didn't let my heart desire a home of its own (i.e something minute compared to the entire world))

Itna he main ne naaz-e-rafaaqat diya usay
Vaaqif usay mizaaj se honay nahin diya
rafaaqat = companionship
vaaqif = to know something
mizaaj = temperament

(The only pride my partner can have in the partnership between us, is that he's not aware of my actual personality)

Kitnay sitaaray aankh se honay ko thay ravaan
Us ajnabi nigaah ne ronay nahin diya
ravaan = to set out (as in a journey)

(My eyes were full of tears, about to flow out, but the way he was looking at me, like a stranger, stopped me from crying out in front of him)

~ Faiza Javed

Us Ke Nazdeek

Us ke nazdeek gham-e-tark-e-vafa kuch bhi nahin
Mutmain aisa hai vo jesay hua kuch bhi nahin

Ab to haathon se lakeerain bhi miti jaati hain
Us ko kho ker to meray paas raha kuch bhi nahin

Kal bicharrna hai to phir ehd-e-vafa soch ke baandh
Abhi aaghaaz-e-muhabbat hai gaya kuch bhi nahin

Main to is vaastay chup hoon keh tamaasha na banay
Tu samajhta hai mujhay tujh se gila kuch bhi nahin

Chaar din reh gaye mailay mein magar ab ke bhi
Us nay aanay ke liye khat mein likha kuch bhi nahin

Aye Shumaar aankhain isi tarha bichaaye rakhna
Jaanay kis vaqt vo aa jaaye, pata kuch bhi nahin

~Akhtar Shumaar

Woh Humsafar Tha

Suno Logo

Suno logo
Meri aankhain khareedo ge
Bohot majboor haalat mein mujhe neelaam karni hain
Koi mujh se naqd le le
Main thoray daam kar doon ga
Jo pehli boli de de ga
Usi ke naam kar doon ga
Mujhay bazaar vaalay keh rahay hain kam aql taajir
Aray sunsaan logo nahin hoon main hirs ka khwahaan
Nafa nuqsaan ki shatranj nahin main khelnay aaya
Koi mujh ko kahay na manchala sa behunar taajir
Bata paaoon tumhain kesay kis tashveesh mein rakkhoon
Suno logo
Bari mehboob tar hain mujh ko meri neem tar aankhain
Magar ab bechta hoon keh
Mujhay ik khaab ka taavaan bharna hai
Suno logo
Meri aankhain khareedo ge
Bohot majboor haalat mein mujhay neelaam karni hain

~ Unknown

neelaam = to auction
naqd = [on] cash
daam = price
taajir = sauda garr; he who does import/export (the proper noun is escaping me at the moment)
sunsaan = eerie; empty
hirs = greed
khwahaan = to be willing of
nafa = benefit; profit
shatranj = chess
manchala = crazy; demented
tashveesh = suspence
neem = almost
tar = wet
taavaan = ransom

I can write pages and pages in explaining this poem and still won't be able to do justice. It hits something very close to home, so I'll just stick to writing it in prose. It's up to you to give it your own meaning. Here goes:
[Do you want to buy my eyes? I'm auctioning them out of desperation (to meet a dire need), so I'll take whatever I get (compensation; money), from whoever makes the first bid. People are calling me names and think I'm an unskilled auctioneer, for selling my merchandise so haphazardly. Now how do I explain to them that I love my eyes very much, but I have to sell them because I need to pay ransom for a dream].

"3:30 AM" Blues

Yaad-e-maazi azaab hai ya Rabb
Cheen le mujh se haafza mera
----------------------------------------

Sher

Jahaan batt rahi thee khushi Zafar, vahaan jangalon ka rivaaj tha
Main qabeelay bhar mein naheef tha, meray haath kuch bhi laga nahin

Sher

Faseelain raasta rokay khari theen
Hamain tootay huay parr yaad aaye

~ Farigh Bukhari

Qarz

Her Zeenay Per

Her zeenay per her manzil per
Her pair talay her shaakh talay
Her parday her deevaar talay
Her khirki mein darvaazay mein
Her aatay jaatay rastay per
Her toli mein her dastay mein
Aye dost jahaan tak jaao ge
Tum mera chehra paao ge
Aye saathi dekho aik dafa
Tum apnay mann ka raaz to do
Main dil se tumhaari mukhlis hoon
Tum aik dafa aavaaz to do

~ Unknown

zeena = staircase
manzil = destination
pair = tree
talay = under
shaakh = branch
toli = group (informal - usually refers to a group of close friends)
dasta = group of people (usually used in reference to army)
mann = self
mukhlis = sincere

Jo Tu Ne

Jo tu ne banaayee hai khwabeedah bahisht
Jo tu ne jalaaye hain mohabbat ke chiraagh
Khaab shehzaada jisay tum dekhti ho
Naadeeda saahir jisay tum poojti ho
Roz chala aata hai saahir sa yahaan
Gar yeh he banay teray naseebon ka suhaag
Phir jo past kheyalaat ka maara niklay 
Tum he kaho ishq mein paagal larki
Kaun tiray khaabon ki gavaahi de ga

~ Muhammad Sabir

khwabeedah = dreamy
bahisht = heaven
naadeeda = invisible
saahir = magician
suhaag = husband
past = indecent
gavahi = testimony; witness

(This imaginary heaven that you have created in which you have lit the light of love; in which you dream of your prince charming, this magician who has enticed you with his many charms, who comes here everyday; if he ends up being your life partner, but turns out to be a bad person, who then will testify for the beauty of your dreams?)

(Explanation [One of my personal greatest concerns as well]: Every girl conjures up an image of an ideal life partner. When deciding to get married, every girl chooses what she thinks is the guy who best fits her fantasies. But then, what if, this guy that you placed on a pedestal, after getting married to you, turns out to be this giant ass. [E.g. says something like, "well, you went out with me and stuff, I don't know how many other guys you went out with, let come close to you, how can I trust your loyalty?] And then what choice would you have? What option? This is the guy you chose, he is the one you wanted to spend the rest of your life with, it was your decision... Who will ever understand the legitimacy of your aforementioned dreams? Who will ever be able to testify to the discrepancy between those dreams and how they panned out?!) 

Sher and Info

Since I've graduated, and a little before that too, I've been having computer issues. So I sincerely apologize for not having been so punctual in adding poems and such.

Here's a sher I read a while ago, and it has been stuck with me since then. Reminds me of ammi's death actually; rather the fragility of human life. Here goes:

Khaali haathon ko kabhi ghaur se dekha hai Faraz
Kis tarah log lakeeron se nikal jaatay hain

Is Say Pehlay

Teray Gham Ko Jaa.n

Teray gham ko jaa.n ki talaash thee, teray jaa.n-nisaar chalay gaye

Teri raah mein kartay thay sar talab, sar-e-rah-guzaar chalay gaye

Teri kaj-adaayee se haar ke, shab-e-intezaar chali gayee

Meray zabt-e-haal se rooth ker meray gham gusaar chalay gaye

Na savaal-e-vasl na arz-e-gham na hikaayatain ka shikaayatain

Tery ehd mein dil-e-zaar ke sabhi ikhtiyaar chalay gaye

Yeh hami thay keh jin ke libaas per sar-e-raah sayaahi likhi gayee

Yehi daagh thay jo saja ke hum sar-e-bazm-e-yaar chalay gaye

Na raha junoon-e-rukh-e-hava, yeh rasan yeh daar karo ge kiya

Jinhay jurm-e-ishq pe naaz tha vo gunahgaar chalay gaye

~ Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Aaina Khaanay Mein

Aaina khaanay mein jo log raha kartay hain

Baarish-e-sang jo hoti hai to kiya karrtay hain

khaanay = place, room (lit. = box)

sang = stone

(Literal: What do the inhabitants of glass houses do when stones fall from the sky?

Explanation: Heart if often compared with glass, meaning it's fragile and easily breakable. Problems, devastations, catastrophes can be equated with stones: they're harsh and when you're hit by them, they hurt you. So what happens to that heart when stones fall on it?)

Kitnay mohtaat hain is sheher ke ehl-e-eimaa.n

Chatriyaan taan ke baarish ki dua karrtay hain

mohtaat = careful

ehl = family; clan; group of ppl who stick together for a reason/cause

chatriyaan = umbrellas

taan = cover (verb)

(How careful are these disciples of [any] faith that they're so confident of the acceptance of their prayers that when they pray for rain, they're sure of its fall, so they already prepare themselves, by opening their umbrellas while praying for rain)

Is qadar dard se maanoos hain hum log keh ab

Koi zakhmon ko na cheray to gila karrtay hain

maanoos = familiar

gila = wail; complaint

(We're so used to being hurt, that when no one stings our wounds, we cry about it)

Jaag uthta hai fasoo.n teri yaadon ka

Log jab tazkira-e-mehr-o-vafa karrtay hain

fasoo.n = magic, mystique

tazkira = zikr karna = to talk about

mehr = compassion

vafa = loyalty

(The magic of your memories always creates its charm when people talk about passion and loyalty)

Is qadar qeht-e-muravvat hai keh Farigh ab to

Bevafa yaaron ko hum yaad kiya karrtay hain

qeht = shortage

muravvat = courtesy

(There is such a lack of goodness these days that it makes me miss my not-so-good friends; since nothing positive can be expected now)

~ Farigh Bukhari

Vo Baat Baat Mein

Vo baat baat mein itna badalta jaata hai

Keh jis tarah koi vaada badalta jaata hai

(He takes a new stance with everything new he says, everything new that comes up. Just like someone keeps shifting their promise from one thing to another. He doesn't stick with one position, one viewpoint. Whatever suits his needs/motives at the time, he takes the stance that best fulfills his purpose then. When that need/want of his is satisfied, he moves on to claiming he has a different standpoint (to meet some other need of his). His words aren't stable, like a promise that assured one thing, but then kept changing to something else - never got fulfilled to what it actually was)

Yeh aarzu thee keh hum us ke saath saath chalain

Magar vo shakhs to rusta badalta jaata hai

(I wanted to be with him in the journey of life, to walk alongside him, but he keeps changing his course)

Jo tez dhoop mein sar per raha vohi aanchal

Hava chali hai to kitna badalta jaata hai

aanchal = dupatta; a piece of cloth used mainly for covering the body

(When it's hot outside, people cover their heads for protection against the heat. But when the wind blows, the same garment keeps flying away, and forget its purpose - protection. The poet is making an indirect comparison between that garment and people. That people don't always do what they originally set out to do. When circumstances change, so do people)

Rutain visaal ki ab khaab honay vaali hain

Keh us ki baat ka lehja badalta jaata hai

visaal = milan; union

lehja = tone of voice

(The thoughts of our coming together are about to turn into dreams, because he keeps taking his word (of staying together) back)

Vo baat ker jisay duniya bhi moetabar samjhay

Tujhay khabar hai zamaana badalta jaata hai

moetabar = trustworthy

(Say something which I can use to bind myself to you. Words don't mean what they used to when things were simpler, when people's honesty could be taken for granted. Now no one can trust someone based on their word. Those values are long gone. Don't keep me hanging on flimsy promises, empty talks. Give me something solid that I can show to the world as proof of your loyalty towards me, as justification of my being with you)

~ Noshi Gilani

Lambi Judaai

Haal Ehvaal

Hello piyaray baccho,

Ummeed hai aap sab kheriyat se hon ge. Main ne kaafi arsay se kuch post nahin kiya hai, aur is ki vajah hai... masroofiyat. But not to worry, I'll be back soon-ish. Abhi bhi there are two poems that I really want to post but my diary is allllllllllllllllllll the way in my shelf and I'm too tired to get up and get it. So, nothing for today. But good poems are coming up, I promise!

Meanwhile, go watch 'Avatar' in IMAX 3D (even if you already have done so). If I still haven't posted anything, then watch 'Shutter Island'. Agar tab tak bhi main ne kuch na post kiya to... youtube zindabad. =)

Adieus!

Hum He Mein Thee

Hum he mein thee na koi baat, yaad na tum ko aa sakay

Tum ne hamain bhula diya, hum na tumhein bhula sakay

(Perhaps there was nothing special in me that would make you miss me, which is probably why you've forgotten me. Though I couldn't do the same)

Tum he na sun sakay agar qissa-e-gham sunay ga kaun

Kis ki zubaa.n khulay gee phir hum na agar suna sakay

(If you refuse to listen to my agonies, then who else will? If you refuse to listen to me, people will lose faith and will stop sharing their pains with their beloved).

Hosh mein aa chukay thay hum, josh mein aa chukay thay hum

Bazm ka rang dekh kar sar na magar utha sakay

(I was aware of everything that was going on, I wasn't intoxicated in any way. But when I saw the situation around me, the circumstances surrounding me, I couldn't dare say anything)

Shauq-e-visaal hai yahaan lab pe savaal hai yahaan

Kis ki majaal hai yahaan hum se nazar mila sakay

(I have the same desires as everyone else around me, rendering me as normal. And I also have the reputation amongst others that keeps them from looking me into the eye)

Raunaq-e-bazm ban gaye lab pe hikayatain raheen

Lab pe shikayatain raheen lab na magar hila sakay

(Even though I was the life of the party, I had their attention, I still couldn't let them know of the complaints I had in my heart)

Aisa bhi koi nama-barr her baat pe kaan dhar sakay

Sun ker yaqeen kar sakay jaa ke unhain suna sakay

(Is there such a messenger that can listen to me, understand my plea, and communicate it to my beloved?)

Ahl-e-zabaa.n to hain bohot, koi nahin hai ahl-e-dard

Kaun teri tarah Hafeez, dard ke geet ga sakay

(There are many here who understand my language, but not a single person who understands my pain. No one can communicate sorrow like myself)

~ Hafeez Jalandhari

Yeh Kesa Khauf Tha

Yeh kesa khauf tha rakht-e-safar bhi bhool gaye

Vo kaun log thay jo apnay ghar bhi bhool gaye

rakht = accomodities one takes while travelling (e.g. money, food, etc)

safar = travel; jounrey

(What kind of a fear was that, that made me forget to take even my essentials along with me on my journey? What kind of people were those who forgot their own homes? Poet is talking about the fear that makes people forget themselves even, their own needs and priorities take the back seat and something else becomes more important. Fear. Of losing someone? Of not finding that someone? Of the world rejecting that someone?.. And they get so preoccupied in this fear that they forget that they're travelling (life is often compared to a journey). They even forget their [final] destinations)

Yeh kesi quvvat-e-parvaaz darr ne paida ki

Parinday urrtay huay apnay parr bhi bhool gaye

quvvat = power; strength

parvaaz = flight

(It is that same fear that wakes in us the power to do what we once deemed impossible. Fear is a motivator after all. But while driven to do those nearly impossible things, we underestimate our capabilities [and end up failing/falling])

Dukhon ne cheen lee aankhon ki saari beenaayee

Hum us ka sheher to kiya, rahguzar bhi bhool gaye

beenaayee = sight

rahguzar = pathway

(My sorrows snatched away my sight [I cried to the point of blindness]. I not only forgot his city, but even the way that led to his city. [That's how crumpled up/debilitating my grief was, that it took over my mind so completely. I forgot those things that were once second nature])

Kheyaal tha keh sunaayen ge haal-e-dil lekin

Hum us ke saamnay arz-e-hunar bhi bhool gaye

arz = request

hunar = skill

(I thought I'd share what's in my heart with him, but once I got in front of him, I even forgot how to speak)

Juda huay to khula hai tumhaari basti mein

Hum aik dil he nahin, chashm-e-tarr bhi bhool gaye

basti = town

chashm = eye

tarr = wet

(And now that we're no longer together, I realize that not only you have my heart, but you also have my tears [meaning I've lost the ability to feel - I'm numb; I've lost it all])

~ Noshi Gilani

Sher

Tujhay bhool jaanay ki koshishain kabhi kaamiyaab na ho sakeen
Teri yaad shaakh-e-gulaab hai jo hava chali to lachak gayee

Sher

Darna vo mera neend ke imkaan se her pal
Aur shaam dhalay khaab ki chaahat mein bhi rehna

~Unknown