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