Happy Birthday

Whenever I think of Urdu poetry the things that come in my mind are a dejected person, a broken heart, a lit cigarette with its ash about to fall and a goblet near by. But then I think about Allama Iqbal and the changing map of world. He might have some of the addictions too but but his other contributions are much more important to talk about.

Exams haven't even started yet and I am already making plans about post exam days. The first thing I am going to do is to visit the 'Javed Manzil' which I haven't ever unluckily.

Dear Allama Iqbal please forgive us for not taking care of your country, for not being the Muslims you wanted us to be, for not developing our khudi and for not fulfilling your dreams.

Poetry Idiopathic

If ever your life is getting necrosed,

Your dreams inflamed, your thoughts thrombosed,

Then let neoplasia of my wished metastize around you.

May all your troubles and worries

get denervated and dystrophied.

And things pleasing you get hyperplastic,

your happiness get hypertrophied.


Anonymous 

Just a glance

Another poem by Amir Khusro, sung by many singers.

Chhap tilak sab cheen li ray mosay naina milaikay.
Prem bhatee ka madhva pilaikay
Matvali kar leeni ray mosay naina milaikay …
Bal bal jaaon mein toray rang rajwa
Apni see kar leeni ray mosay naina milaikay
Khusrau Nijaam kay bal bal jayyiye
Mohay Suhaagan keeni ray mosay naina milaikay
Chhap tilak sab cheen li ray mosay naina milaikay

(I found this translation somewhere)
You’ve taken away my looks, my identity, by just a glance.
By making me drink the wine of love-potion,
You’ve intoxicated me by just a glance;
I give all my life to you, I want to be like you,
You’ve dyed me in yourself, by just a glance.
I give my whole life to you Oh, Nijam,
You’ve made me your bride, by just a glance.
You've taken away my looks, my identity, by just a glance.

Mango, mustard and beloved

I came across this beautiful piece by the sufi saint Amir Khusro. The poetry itself is ecstatic. Flowers, basant, yellow mustard, happiness, this poem describes the arrival of spring season. The composition by Sabri brothers was an extra treat.

Sakal bun phool rahi sarson
Umbva phutay, tesu phulay
Koyal bolay daar daar
Aur gori karat singhaar,
Malaniyan gadhwa lay aayin karson,
Sakal bun phool rahi sarson
Tarah tarah kay phool lagaaye,
Lay gadhwa haathan mein aaye.
Nijamudin kay darwazay par,
Aawan keh gaye aashaq rung,
Aur beet gaye barson.
Sakal bun phool rahi sarson.

Its difficult to convey the same meaning in any other language but Ive tried a rough translation. (Just the words sarson and mustard evoke different thoughts in mind)

The mustard flowers bloom in every field,
Mango buds sprout, and tesu yield;
The cuckoo chirps from branch to branch,
And the maiden puts her make-up and jewellery,
The gardener-girls have brought bouquets.
Planted flowers of all kinds,
Brought bouquets in our hands
To the door of Nizamudin
My beloved went away promising to come back,
But years have passed since that.
The mustard flowers bloom in every field.

Dance and Love

The famous poem by Bulle Shah Teray ishq nachaya, translated by some Kartar Singh. I post it with some modifications.

Your love has made me dance like mad

Falling in love with you
Was like taking a sip of poison
Come my healer, forsaken, Im dying
Your love has made me dance like mad

The sun has set, its flush only left
Ill give my life for a glimpse of you
My fault, I came not when you bade
Your love has made me dance like mad

Dissuade me not from the path of love
Who can hold the boats on the move
Stupid, I joined the boatmen's squad
Your love has made me dance like mad

A peacock calls in the grove of passion
I see my love in Qibla and Kaaba
You asked not once after you stabbed
Your love has made me dance like mad

Bulleh Shah sits at Inayat's door
Who has dressed me in green and red
And caught me the instant I flew from the pad
Your love has made me dance like mad