Thursday, April 15, 2010

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

Thursday, April 8, 2010

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