Use kya, khud ko bhula dunga
Is tufaan ko bujha dunga
Main teri raah mein ab bas
Har ek lamha naya dunga
Mohabbat kya, qayamat kya
Main farq inme mita dunga
Hai darya uske ishare par
To kashti hi duba dunga
Naye rangon ki ek duniya
Siyaah-e-dil se bana dunga
[by Siyaah]
----
An earlier attempt at a musalsal ghazal - a somewhat unusual theme and state of being - finally had the courage to post.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
What Does A Bomb Know? - Manzar Bhopali
On a somewhat different note than usual, I am compelled to note Manzar Bhopali's commentary on the times. Manzar's forte is his ability to have a finger on the pulse of the people - touching upon the issues of the day, conveyed often through simple words using popular imagery. His mellifluous recitations always add a haunting effect- listen to this one here (third link). I have transcribed and translated one part of the poem below.
Bum Ko Kya Maaloom?
[By Manzar Bhopali]
Koi bhi mehfooz nahi hai, phoot rahe hain bum
Jaane kab ho jaaye kisi ka taara raara rum
Kaun hai hindu kaun musalmaan bum ko kya maaloom
Kaun hai sindhi kaun muhaajir bum ko kya maaloon
Aashiq ho, mehbooba ho, ya ho koi maasoom- bum ko kya maaloom
Bum kya jaane rishte naate, bum kya jaane ghum
Jaane kab ho jaaye kisi ka taara raara rum
What Does a Bomb Know?
[Translated from the Urdu by Siyaah]
No one is safe, all around burst bombs-
Who knows when anyone of us will be gone?
Who is a hindu, who is a muslim - what does a bomb know?
Who is a native, who is an immigrant - what does a bomb know? [1]
A lover, a beloved or an innocent - what does a bomb know?
What does a bomb know of relationships and friendships - what does a bomb know of grief?
Who knows when anyone of us will be gone?
[1] I have used the general word 'native' to contrast with 'immigrant' - the use of 'sindhi' and 'muhaajir' in the original points towards one of the post-partition problems of South Asia - the integration problems of immigrants in Pakistan, but the theme is general.
Bum Ko Kya Maaloom?
[By Manzar Bhopali]
Koi bhi mehfooz nahi hai, phoot rahe hain bum
Jaane kab ho jaaye kisi ka taara raara rum
Kaun hai hindu kaun musalmaan bum ko kya maaloom
Kaun hai sindhi kaun muhaajir bum ko kya maaloon
Aashiq ho, mehbooba ho, ya ho koi maasoom- bum ko kya maaloom
Bum kya jaane rishte naate, bum kya jaane ghum
Jaane kab ho jaaye kisi ka taara raara rum
What Does a Bomb Know?
[Translated from the Urdu by Siyaah]
No one is safe, all around burst bombs-
Who knows when anyone of us will be gone?
Who is a hindu, who is a muslim - what does a bomb know?
Who is a native, who is an immigrant - what does a bomb know? [1]
A lover, a beloved or an innocent - what does a bomb know?
What does a bomb know of relationships and friendships - what does a bomb know of grief?
Who knows when anyone of us will be gone?
[1] I have used the general word 'native' to contrast with 'immigrant' - the use of 'sindhi' and 'muhaajir' in the original points towards one of the post-partition problems of South Asia - the integration problems of immigrants in Pakistan, but the theme is general.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Tanhaai
Khwaab ki tarah bikhar jaane ko jee chaahta hai
Aisi tanhaai ke mar jaane ko jee chaahta hai
[Iftikhar Arif]
To shatter like a dream, I wish
Such loneliness- that to die, I wish
[Translated by Siyaah]
---
Not much more to say these days.
Aisi tanhaai ke mar jaane ko jee chaahta hai
[Iftikhar Arif]
To shatter like a dream, I wish
Such loneliness- that to die, I wish
[Translated by Siyaah]
---
Not much more to say these days.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Is Dard Se...
Is dard se nejaat paaun to kaise
Waapas ab us duniya mein jaaun to kaise... [1]
Abhi tak tumhaara khwaab meri aankhon mein hai
Main apna sab kuchh chhorh jaaun to kaise...
Main khush hoon bohot, pareshaan hoon bohot
Apni haalat tumhein samjhaaun to kaise...
Main kuchh bhi sochun tum aa jaate ho khayaalon mein
Khayaalon ke is jaal ko ab suljhaaun to kaise...
Tumhi the chaand, tumhi suraj, tumhi taaron ka falak
Din raat main ab apne bachaaun to kaise... [5]
Tum aaye the to yaad aaya tha ke zindaa hoon main
Ab zindagi ke mai'ne phir se bhulaaun to kaise...
Khushiyon ki horh mein hai har koi mubtelaa
Kamzarfon ko gham apne dikhaaun to kaise... [7]
Lo kehne laga phir se kuchh sher Siyaah
Ab hosh mein main aaun to kaise... [8]
[by Siyaah]
[1]nejaat: escape, to become free of (especially hardships)
[5]falak: celestial sphere, sky, also used for orbit, which gives this couplet a nice touch with reference to day and night in the second verse
[7]mubtelaa: deeply involved, especially in misfortune, misery, difficulties...thus bringing out the irony here with 'khushiyon ki...'
kamzarf: literally, those with less wit, capability, elegance, beauty
[8] Siyaah is used here as a takhallus, and could also be read as a characteristic of the sher...both interpretations connect to the last verse.
Waapas ab us duniya mein jaaun to kaise... [1]
Abhi tak tumhaara khwaab meri aankhon mein hai
Main apna sab kuchh chhorh jaaun to kaise...
Main khush hoon bohot, pareshaan hoon bohot
Apni haalat tumhein samjhaaun to kaise...
Main kuchh bhi sochun tum aa jaate ho khayaalon mein
Khayaalon ke is jaal ko ab suljhaaun to kaise...
Tumhi the chaand, tumhi suraj, tumhi taaron ka falak
Din raat main ab apne bachaaun to kaise... [5]
Tum aaye the to yaad aaya tha ke zindaa hoon main
Ab zindagi ke mai'ne phir se bhulaaun to kaise...
Khushiyon ki horh mein hai har koi mubtelaa
Kamzarfon ko gham apne dikhaaun to kaise... [7]
Lo kehne laga phir se kuchh sher Siyaah
Ab hosh mein main aaun to kaise... [8]
[by Siyaah]
[1]nejaat: escape, to become free of (especially hardships)
[5]falak: celestial sphere, sky, also used for orbit, which gives this couplet a nice touch with reference to day and night in the second verse
[7]mubtelaa: deeply involved, especially in misfortune, misery, difficulties...thus bringing out the irony here with 'khushiyon ki...'
kamzarf: literally, those with less wit, capability, elegance, beauty
[8] Siyaah is used here as a takhallus, and could also be read as a characteristic of the sher...both interpretations connect to the last verse.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
O Dusk of Grief: A Translation
O Dusk of Grief
[By Firaq Gorakhpuri. Translated from the Urdu by Siyaah]
O dusk of grief- somewhat of that graceful gaze, let’s talk
Unconsciousness increases- of the secret, let’s talk [1]
This graceful silence, this rupturing of the heart’s veins
In silence, somewhat of that organ’s defeat, let’s talk [2]
Somewhat from the cage’s bars- something like light filters through
Somewhat of the skies, somewhat of the desire to fly, let’s talk [3]
The fragrance of hair tousled, tale of dusk of grief
Till dawn- in this very style, let’s talk... [4]
---
Translator's Notes
I have tried to convey the poet's words and ideas while leaving the interpretations somewhat open in places, as in the original.
[4] nakhat: breath of air / fragrance; zulf-e-pareshaan: hair that is tousled / disarrayed, typically invoking beauty and mystery.
[By Firaq Gorakhpuri. Translated from the Urdu by Siyaah]
O dusk of grief- somewhat of that graceful gaze, let’s talk
Unconsciousness increases- of the secret, let’s talk [1]
This graceful silence, this rupturing of the heart’s veins
In silence, somewhat of that organ’s defeat, let’s talk [2]
Somewhat from the cage’s bars- something like light filters through
Somewhat of the skies, somewhat of the desire to fly, let’s talk [3]
The fragrance of hair tousled, tale of dusk of grief
Till dawn- in this very style, let’s talk... [4]
---
Translator's Notes
I have tried to convey the poet's words and ideas while leaving the interpretations somewhat open in places, as in the original.
[1] nigaah-e-naaz: gaze of grace / one with the graceful gaze / graceful gaze
[2] sukoot: silence; ragon: blood vessels - I have used veins for poetic effect; shikast-e-saaz: defeat of (musical) instrument - I have used organ as it carries the meaning of musical instrument and also connects to 'heart' in the previous line.
[3] qafas: cage; noor: light, typically with deeper positive connotations often of a spiritual nature; fazaa: atmosphere / skies / space, also suggesting the conditions of these i.e. the weather; hasrat-e-parwaz: desire to fly[4] nakhat: breath of air / fragrance; zulf-e-pareshaan: hair that is tousled / disarrayed, typically invoking beauty and mystery.
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