Shaam Aati Hai

Mere Ghar Subah Nahin Aati
Sirf Shaam Aati Hai

Thake Se Sooraj Ki Kirnon Pe Savaar
Sunehri  Si Shaam Aati Hai

Pardon Ke Beech Se
Sehem Sehem Ke Shaam Aati hai

Din Bhar Ki Khabron Ko Liye
Evening Postwaali Shaam Aati Hai

Office Se Ghar Aate
Logonwali Shaam Aati Hai

Ek Aur Raat Ka Aaghaaz Liye
Silaeti Shaam Aati Hai

Kucch Der Balcony Pe Letti Hai
Aur Phir Kal Tak Ke Liye Ghaayab Ho Jaati Hai

Ashu Miyaan Hamaare

My nephew Ashar turned four on 23rd of this month. Continuing with the tradition, I wrote this for the occasion.

Ashu Miyan Hamaare

Ab Chaar Saal Ke Ho Chale
Abhi Kal Hi Ki To Baat Hai
Ki Teen Ke Hue The

Aql Ke Pakke Ho Rahein Hain
Bade Bade Sawaal Karte Hain

‘Kaun Jyaada Powerful Hai
Hawa, Aag, Paani
Ya Phir Deewaar?’

‘Humein Chalne Ke Liye
Pair Kyon Uthaana Padta Hai
Turuck Toh Yunhi Chalti Hai?’

Maar Pitaayi Ke Khel Meiin
Bada Mazaa Aata Hai Miyaan Ko
Chot Bhi Lagti Rehti Hai
Phir Bhi Peeche Nahin Hat-te

Kabhi Jab Dimaar Ho Jaate Hain
Hum Sab Ki Jaan Le Lete Hain
Aur Jab Theek Ho Jaate Hain
Waapish Maar-Pitaayi Shuru Kar Dete Hai

Badi jaldi Naraaz Bhi Ho Jaate Hain
Aur Gar Manaane Lago Toh
Dheere Dheere Dheere Dheere
Muskuraa Bhi Dete Hain

Ghar Mein Saalgirah Jiski Bhi Ho
Cake Wohi Kaat-te Hain
Aur Aaj Toh Unki Hi Saalgirah Hai
Aaj Toh Badawaala Cake Kaatenge

Ashu Miyan Hamaare
Ab Chaar Saal Ke Ho Chale
Abhi Kal Hi Ki To Baat Hai
Ki Teen Ke Hue The

Shaam E Firaaq / Evening of Separation

Tried to translate another one of the master's (Faiz) work in English. Of course, no translation can render the same amount of sublime beauty as the original masterpiece.

Shaam-e-Firaaq Ab Na Pooch, Aayi Aur Aake Tal Gayee
Dil Tha Ki Phir Bahal Gayaa, Jaan Thi Ki Phir Sambhal Gayee

Bazm-e-Khyaal Mein Tere Husn Ki Shamma Jal Gayee
Dard Ka Chaand Bujh Gayaa Hijr Ki Raat Dhal Gayee

Jab Tujhe Yaad Kar Liyaa Subah Mahak Mahak Utthi
Jab Tera Gham Jagaa Liyaa Raat Machal Machal Gayee

Dil Se Toh Har Muaamla Kar Ke Chale The Saaf Hum
Kehne Mein Un Ke Saamne Baat Badal Badal Gayee

Aakhir-e-Shab Ke Humsafar Faiz Na Jaane Kahaan Gaye
Rah Gayee Kis Jagah Sabaa, Subah Kidhar Nikal Gayee


Do not ask about the evening of separation; it came, and passed
The heart got diverted again and life found its feet again

In the ensemble of my thoughts, the light of your beauty lit up
The moon of pain snuffed out, the night of separation slipped away

Whenever I remembered you, mornings became fragrant
Whenever I awakened your pain, the nights became restless

In this heart I had sorted all the issues before setting out
However while recounting before her, words changed by themselves

Where did my co-travellers to the end-of-the-night go?
Where did the breeze get left behind and which way did the dawn walk off?

Woh

Jaade Ke Mausam Mein
Subah Ki Dhoop Jaisi Hai Woh

Garmi Ki Dopeheron Mein
Suraahiwaale Pani Jaisi Hai Woh

Baarishwaali Shaamon Mein
Adrak Ki Chai Jaisi Hai Woh

Aisi Hai Woh

Partners in Crime

It teaches you patience; she said

For, it reaches you slow and sweet
It reached me quiet early, I said
When I was seventeen or eighteen

Those were the days of cheap
Of depending on pocket feed
Both quantity and quality were less
But the high was high and deep

Then came the money days
Along came the Gokul ways
My partner in crime and I
Were found there every eve

The partner left for a foreign land
Crime stayed pretty much at hand
Gathering further ash and dust
Turning me into a living ghost

Then came the days of Anitiquity
Of things wild, and life sweet
We got together again in crime
Even if it was, just for a while

Followed by years of separation
Crime continued, simultaneously
Towards sophisticated ways,
Elitist names and complex tastes

Years later, the partners united
Over a bottle of almondy Glen
Mellowed conversations and love
Crime had hit the city, yet again!

Jab

Jab Lamp-posts Se 

Peeli Baarish Girti Hai

Jab Kaali Sadkein
Aayina Ban Jaatein Hain

Jab Patloonein 
Oonchein Ho Jaatein Hain

Jab Joote 
Sehem Sehem ke Chalte Hain

Jab Doctoron Ki
Kamaayi Badh Jaati Hai

Jab Tauliye Ki Duty 
Badh Jaati Hai

Jab Dare Hue Parindey
Khul Ke Ud Nahin Paate

Jab Sheher Ko 
Ek Naya Background Score Mil Jaata Hai

Aur, Baqaul Gulzar 
Jab Pahiye Kulle Karte Hain

Tab, Mumbai Mein
Monsoon Aa Jaata hai

Aaye Kucch Abr Kucch Sharaab Aaye

Considering that the breathtaking monsoons are here, an English translation of this gem from Faiz had to be done.

Aaye Kuch Abr Kuch Sharaab Aaye
Usske Baad Aaye Jo Azaab Aaye

Baam-e-Minaa Se Maahtaab Utare
Dast-e-Saaqi Mein Aaftaab Aaye

Har Rag-e-Khoon Mein Phir Charaagaan Ho

Saamne Phir Woh Benaqaab Aaye

Umr Ke Har Warq Pe Dil Ko Nazar

Teri Mehr-o-wafaa Ke Baab Aaye

Kar Rahaa Tha Gham-e-Jahaan Ka Hisaab

Aaj Tum Yaad Behisaab Aaye

Na Gayee Tere Gham Ki Sardaari

Dil Mein Yun Roz Inqalaab Aaye

Jal Uthe Bazm-e-Ghair Ke Dar-o-Baam

Jab Bhi Hum Khaane Kharaab Aaye

Is Taraah Apni Khaamoshi Goonjee

Goya Har Simt Se Jawaab Aaye

Faiz Thi Raah Sarbasar Manzil

Hum Jahaan Pahunche Kaamyaaab Aaye

A translation

Let some clouds come along with some wine

Then later, any kind of calamity is fine

Moonlight flows from heavens terrace

While the sun rises from Saaquis hands

Let all the blood-veins light up again

Let her come before me unveiled

In all the pages of my life

Let the tales of your kindness appear

Was taking stock of all the pains in this world

And your memories came gushing, endlessly

The eminence of your pain never leaves me

Though the heart revolts everyday

The world of strangers burns 

Every time I return home destroyed

My silence echoed in such a way

Answers came from all directions

Faiz, my path was strewn with destinations

Wherever I reached, I was victorious

When, In Your Ocean Eyes

I haven't been on this page for almost a light year. This morning, while listening to Ms Nayyara Noor's beautiful rendition of the above mentioned poem by the great Urdu poet Faiz, made me feel like making a comeback. 

A fleeting moment has never been captured so beautifully in words than the way its been done in this poem and I've tried to get some essence of it in this English translation.

Jab Teri Samandar Aankhon Mein

ye dhoop kinara, shaam dhale
milte hain dono waqt jahan,
jo raat na din, jo aaj na kal,
pal bhar ko amar,
pal bhar mein dhuan,
is dhoop kinare, pal do pal,
honton ki lapak,
baahon ki chanak,
ye mel hamara jhoot na sach,
kyon raaz karo, kyun dosh dharo,
kis kaaran jhooti baat karo,
jab teri samundar aankhon mein,
is shaam ka sooraj doobega,
sukh soenge ghar dar wale,
aur raahi apni raah lega

When, In Your Ocean Eyes

This sunlight’s edge,
This evening’s fall
Where two moments meet
Neither night nor day
Neither today nor morrow
A moment, forever
In a moment, gone
This sunlight’s edge
This fleeting moment
Our Leaping lips
Our Clinging arms
This togetherness
Neither true nor a lie
So, why this secrecy
So, why blame someone
And, what’s the need for lies
When, in your ocean eyes
This evening’s sun will set
Families shall sleep peacefully
And a traveler will find his way.

Below is the link of Ms Noor's rendition of this poem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjuR3cSC4kM

Physical Flow

My drunken sweetheart came inside the door,
We sat on the floor and drank some more.
My heart started playing with her auburn hair,
My face became eyes and eyes became hands.

Faiz, Bano & me

Every now and then Faiz Ahmad Faiz comes and speaks to me. Sometimes, in the wee hours of the morning and sometimes, deep in the night. Yesterday, for a change, he came in the afternoon along with the great singer Iqbal Baano. Both the greats talked to me over a few G&Ts. What follows is an excerpt from yesterday along with the lady’s brilliant rendition of it.

Dasht-e-tanhaai mein,
Ai jaan-e-jahaan, larzaan hain 
Teri avaaz ke saaye, 
Tere honthon ke saraab 

In the desert of my solitude,
Oh love of my life, quivers
The shadows of your voice, 
The mirage of your lips

Dasht-e-tanhaai mein, 
Duri ke khas-o-khaak tale 
Khil rahe hain tere pehlu ke saman aur gulaab

In the desert of my solitude, 
Beneath the dust and ashes of distance
Bloom the jasmines and roses of your proximity

Uth rahi hai kahin qurbat se 
Teri saans ki aanch 
Apani khushbuu mein sulagti hui 
Maddham maddham 

From somewhere very close,
Rises the warmth of your breath
Smouldering in its own aroma,
Slowly, bit by bit.

Dur ufaq par chamakati hui 
Qatra qatra
Gir rahi hai teri dil daar nazar ki shabnam 

Far away, across the horizon,
Glistens drop by drop
The falling dew of your beguiling glance

Is qadar pyaar se hai jaan-e jahaan rakkhaa hai , 
Dil ke rukhsaar pe 
Is vaqt teri yaad ne haath

With such tenderness, O love of my life
On the cheek of my heart,
Has your memory placed its hand right now

Yun guman hota hai 
Garche hai abhi subah-e-firaaq 
Dhal gaya hijr ka din 
Aa bhi gaye vasl ki raat 

That it looks as if
(though it's still the dawn of adieu)
The sun of separation has set
And the night of union has arrived.

Long Weekend

Darwaazon Pe Pada
Akhbaaron Ka Dher
Long Weekend Ki
Gawaahi Deta Hai

Khabron Ki Laash Liye
Iss Intezaar Mein Ke
Kab Darwaaza Khule
Aur Raddi Mein Dafnaya Jaaye

Kai Baar Koshish Ki
Ke Qabron Ko Khod Kar
Khabron Ko Zinda Karoon
Lekin Yeh Kabhi Na Hua

A rough translation in English...

Newspapers lying on the doorstep
Speak  of the long weekend
Carrying dead News, they wait
To be buried in the heap of trash

Many a times, I tried
Digging the graves
To resurrect those News
But, I've invariably failed

A Wordsmith to a Tunesmith

Tunesmith, my tunesmith
Craft me a sweet tune
My words need them
Please give them one

It’d be the best for my words
Even if it’s your worst
They'll dance in its glory
So will your tune, in them

When the song is complete
We shall celebrate in style
Scotch and Gold Flake Lights
To light up the night

Woh Ghadi Hamaari Hai

Shaam Jab Jaane Ka Naam Na Le
Aur Raat Aane Mein Sharma Rahi Ho
Samunder Mein Silaeti Chamak Ho
Aur Tumhaari Aankhon Mein Bhi

Woh Ghadi Hamaari Hai
Woh Ghadi Hamaari Apni Hai
Woh Ghadi Hamaari Hai
Woh Ghadi Hamaari Apni Hai

Bheege Ret Par Roz Aati Hai, Woh Ghadi
Hamaara Intezaar Karti Hai Der Tak
Phir Maayoosi Se Laut Jaati Hai
Kal Phir Se Aane Ke Liye

Lekin Ek Dafa Aisa Hoga Kabhi
Mayoos Na Hogi Hamaari Ghadi
Hum Saath Baithe Honge Ret Par
Haanth Mein Haanth Liye...Hamaari Apni Ghadi Mein

Aajkal

Aajkal Ghar Mein Lambe Baal Nahin Dikhte
Sirf Ek Lambi Si Tanhaayi Dikhti Hai, Akeli Baithi

Ab Ghar Mein Chotti Taqraarein Bhi Nahin Hotein
Bas Ek Badi Si Khamoshi Tangi Rehti Hai Har Taraf

Aajkal Koi Nahin Poochta Ki, ‘Kya Pehnoon?’
Bas Kuch Khamosh Kapde Rakhe Hain Almaari Mein

Aajkal Bistar Kuch Zyaada Bada Lagta Hai
Aur Neendein Choti Hoti Jaa Rahein Hain

Aur Ek Aadha Paint Kiya Hua Canvas Pada Hai
Patta Nahin Kabhi Poora Hoga Bhi Ya Nahin?

Consider Me Dead

Consider me dead
Unless you want us to live
Like that little seed

Sown in our hearts

Soon this seed will

Turn into a plant

With water of love

Become an ageless tree

And as we grow old

We'll seek its shade
To rest our bodies
On sunny afternoons

And when we are gone

(With luck on our side)

We'd be buried together
Under our very own ageless tree

Consider me dead
Unless you want us to live
Like that little seed

Sown in our hearts

Neend Ke Dhaage

Neend Ke Dhaage Mein
Khwaab Pirote Ho Tum
Gale Mein Yeh Haar Daale
Raat Haseen Ho Jaati Hai

Badi Itraati Phirti Hai
Khaamosh Galiyon Mein
Sitaaron Ka Dil Todti
Andheron Ko Roshan Karti

Aur Jab Kabhi Ek Aadh Baar
Chandni Ka Saamna Hota Hai
Dhak Leti Hai Khudko Sharmaaker

Ek Bade Sufaid Chaadar Mein

Nayi Dosti

The seeds of this one was once again sowed by the same poetry-loving friend.

Beech Raat Ek Khwaab
Sirhane Gir Gaya
Masoom Aur Tanha
Apno Se Juda Ho Gaya

Neend Ki Galiyon Mein
Bechara Akele Yunhi
Bhatakta Raha Badi Der
Doston Ki Talaash Mein

Yunhi Bhataktey Bhataktey
Usse Ek Aur Khwaab Mila
Lamppost Ke Neeche Baitha
Sar Jhukaaye, Masoom Aur Tanha

Ek Ne Doosre Se Poocha,
‘Kya Tum Bhi Meri Tarah Ho
Raasta Bhatak Gaye Ho,

Apnon Se Bichad Gaye Ho?’

Phir Kya, Dosti Hui Unki
Haanth Milaaye Gaye
Aur Donon Saath Chal Diye
Subah Tak Ka Safar Tay Karne

Jugalbandi

This one is a collaborative effort with a poetry loving friend of mine over a modern day technology (mobile sms). We liked the result, so here it is for you to comment.

Kabhi Kabhi Na Jaane Kyun,
Bevajeh Anjaane Mein Yunhi
Tum Aa Jaate Ho Khayaalon Mein
Ek Pyaari Si Yaad Bankar

Phir Uss Yaad Ke Chaand Ko
Dubote Ho Iss Dil Ke Saagar Mein
Aur Hoke Ek Kashti Mein Sawaar
Jaate Hain Hum Sapon Ki Basti Mein

Basti Mein Kuch Diye Jal Rahe The,
Aur Raat Kaafi Gehri Thi
Kuch Der Pehle Khaaye Hue
Khaane Ki Khusbhu Bhi Phaili Thi

Door Kuch Khamoshiyan Baithein Thi
Aapas Mein Kucch Baatein Kar Rahi Thein
Maine Tumse Haule Se Kaha
‘Ho Sake Toh Inhein Suno Zara’

A Dream Conversation

Tonight

My 3rd dream

Will meet your 4th (you sleep earlier than me)

Over cups of cloud

They will chat about

Their hopes and dreams

Then they will move on

To the reality of our lives

As the night fades into a new dawn

A rough translation in Urdu follows...

Aaj Raat

Mera Teesra Khaab

Milega Tumhaare Chauthe Se

Baadalon Ki Pyaliyon Ke Saath

Baatein Hongein Hamaari
Ummeedon Ki Aur Khaabon Ki

Phir Haqueeqat Ka Saamna Hoga

Jab Raat Subah Ki Taraf Jaane Lagegi