Urdu Poetry Translation

Hamaare Daramiyaa.N

Parveen Shakir (Urdu: پروین شاکر) (November 24, 1952 – December 26, 1994) was a Pakistani Urdu poetess, teacher and a civil servant of the Government of Pakistan. Shakir started writing at an early age, initially under the pen name of ‘Beena,’ and published her first volume of poetry, Khushbu [Fragrance], to great acclaim, in 1976. She subsequently published other volumes of poetry – all well-received – including Inkaar [Refusal], Sad-barg [Marsh Marigold], Khud Kalami [Conversing with the Self] and Kaf-e-Aa’ina [The Edge of the Mirror], besides a collection of her newspaper columns, titled Gosha-e-Chashm [The Sight Corner]], and was awarded one of Pakistan’s highest honours, the Pride of Performance for her outstanding contribution to literature. (courtesy Wikipedia)

Hamaare Daramiyaa.N Aisaa Ko_ii Rishtaa Nahii.n Thaa

By Parveen Shakir
Translated by Ayesha Khanna

hamaare daramiyaa.N aisaa ko_ii rishtaa nahii.n thaa
our relations were not such

tere shaano.n pe ko_ii chhat nahii.n thii
no roof bore down on your shoulders

mere zimme ko_ii aa.Ngan nahii.n thaa
nor any yard depend on my  care

ko_ii vaadaa terii zanjiir-e-paa banane nahii.n paayaa
no promise could restrain you

kisii iqaraar ne merii kalaa_ii ko nahii.n thaamaa
nor any love bind my wrist

havaa-e-dasht kii maanind
like desert wind

tuu aazaad thaa
you were free

raaste terii marzii ke tabe the
roads winding at your behest

mujhe bhii apanii tanhaa_ii pe
on my solitary life,  i too

dekhaa jaaye to
upon reflection

puuraa tasarruf thaa
had full command

magar jab aaj tuu ne
yet today

raastaa badalaa
you changed your route

to kuchh aisaa lagaa mujh ko
and it felt

ke jaise tuu ne mujh se bevafaa_ii kii
as if you betrayed me

Image Courtesy the film Guru

Urdu Poetry Translation

RAQS (Dance)

Noon Meem Rashid (b. 1910 – 9 October 1975) is considered to be the father of Modernism in Urdu Literature. Along with Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he is by far the greatest poet in the history of Pakistani literature. His themes run from the struggle against oppression to the relationship between words and meanings, between language and awareness and the creative process that produces poetry and other arts. Though intellectually deep, he was often attacked for his unconventional views and life-style. He rebelled against the traditional form of ‘ghazal’ and became the first major exponent of free verse in Urdu Literature. (courtesy Wikipedia)

By Noon Meem Rashid
Translated by Ayesha Khanna

ai merii ham_raqs mujh ko thaam le
zindagii se bhaag kar aayaa huu.N mai.n
Dar se larazaa.N huu.N kahii.n aisaa na ho
raqs_gaah ke chor daravaaze se aakar zindagii
Dhuu.NDh le mujh ko nishaa.N paa le meraa
aur jurm-e-aish karate dekh le

come, my fellow dancer, hold me
from life I have fled and arrived
quivering with fear
that in this brothel, life may follow
and find me intoxicated
see me decadent, corrupt and debauched

ai merii ham_raqs mujh ko thaam le
raqs kii ye gardishe.n
ek mubaham aasiyaa ke daur hai.n
kaisi sargarmii se Gam ko rau.ndataa jaataa huu.N mai.n
jii me.n kahataa huu.N ki haa.N
raqs_gaah me.n zindagii ke jhaa.Nkane se peshtar
kulfato.n kaa sang_rezaa ek bhii rahane na paaye

come, my fellow dancer, hold me
these cycles of dance
enigmatic revolutions of sin
with what zeal I spin the wheels of sorrow
and in my mind, I agree
before entering this brothel
not one speck of my troubles should remain

ai merii ham_raqs mujh ko thaam le
zindagii mere liye
ek Khuunii bhe.Diye se kam nahii.n
ai hasii.n-o-ajanabii aurat usii ke Dar se mai.n
ho rahaa huu.N lamhaa lamhaa aur bhii tere qariib
jaanataa huu.N tuu merii jaa.N bhii nahii.n
tujh se milane kaa phir imkaa.N bhii nahii.n
tuu merii aarazuuo.n kii magar tamsiil hai
jo rahii mujh se gurezaa.N aaj tak

come, my fellow dancer, hold me
for me life
is no less than a surreptitious murderer
o beautiful stranger, from its very door
slowly, I come closer to you
knowing you are not my love
and meeting you is unlikely
but still you are that one desire
which eludes me till today

ai merii ham_raqs mujh ko thaam le
ahad-e-paariinaa kaa mai.n insaa.N nahii.n
bandagii se is dar-o-diivaar kii
ho chukii hai.n Khvaahishe.n be-soz-o-rang-o-naatavaa.N
jism se tere lipaT sakataa to huu.N
zindagii par mai.n jhapaT sakataa nahii.n
is liye ab thaam le
ai hasii.n-o-ajanabii aurat mujhe ab thaam le

come, my fellow dancer, hold me
of no divine promise am I a follower
and bondage to this place
has weakened all desire for abstinence
to your body I can cling
but life I cannot battle
so hold me now
o beautiful stranger hold me now

Image Courtesy the film Paheli

Urdu Poetry Translation

Dasht-e-Tanhai

Faiz Ahmed Faiz ( فیض احمد فیض; born 1911, died 1984) is one of the most famous modern Urdu poets, though he also wrote in Punjabi.  Faiz was a member of the Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind (Progressive Writers’ Movement), and an avowed Marxist. In 1962 he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union (courtesy Wikipedia)

By Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Translated by Ayesha Khanna

dasht-e-tanhaai mein, ai jaan-e-jahaan, larzaan hain
In the desert of my solitude, oh love of my life, quiver
teri avaaz ke saaye,
the shadows of your voice,
tere honthon ke saraab
the mirage of your lips

dasht-e-tanhaai mein,
In the desert of my solitude,
duri ke khas-o-khaak tale
beneath the dust and ashes of distance
khil rahe hain tere pehlu ke saman aur gulaab
bloom the jasmines and roses of your proximity

uht rahi hai kahin qurbat se
From somewhere very close,
teri saans ki aanch
rises the warmth of your breath
apani khushbuu mein sulagti hui
smouldering in its own aroma,
maddham maddham
slowly, bit by bit.

dur ufaq par chamakati hui
far away, across the horizon, glistens
qatra qatra
drop by drop
gir rahi hai teri dil daar nazar ki shabnam
the falling dew of your beguiling glance

is qadar pyaar se hai jaan-e jahaan rakkhaa hai
With such tenderness, O love of my life,
dil ke rukhsaar pe
on the cheek of my heart,
is vaqt teri yaad ne haath
has your memory placed its hand right now

yun guman hota hai
that it looks as if
garche hai abhi subah-e-firaaq
(though it’s still the dawn of adieu)
dhal gaya hijr ka din
the sun of separation has set
aa bhi gaye vasl ki raat
and the night of union has arrived.

Urdu Poetry Translation

Abhi to Main Jawaan Hoon

Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez Jalandhuri (Punjabi, Urdu: ابو الاثر حفیظ جالندھری) [1] writer, poet and composer of the National Anthem of Pakistan. He was born in Jalandhar, Punjab, India on January 14, 1900. After partition of India in 1947 he moved to Lahore. His monumental work of poetry, Shahnam-e-Islam, gave him incredible fame which, in the manner of Firdowsi’s Shahnameh, is a record of the glorious history of Islam in verse. (courtesy Wikipedia)

By Hafeez Jallandhari
Translated by Ayesha Khanna

abhi to main jawaan hoon
I am still young

havaa bhii Kushagavaar hai, gulo.n pe bhii nikhaar hai
tarannume.n hazaar hai, bahaar purabahaar hai
The air is delicious, flowers are blooming
Melodies are in the air, spring is everywhere

kahaa.N chalaa hai saaqiyaa, (idhar to lauT idhar to aa)
are, yah dekhataa hai kyaa? uThaa subuu, subuu uThaa
Where are you going, wine-giver?
Ay, Come back here
Why do you wait? Bring the pitcher of wine

subuu uThaa, piyaalaa bhar piyaalaa bhar ke de idhar
chaman kii simt kar nazar, samaa to dekh beKabar
Bring the pitcher, fill my cup
Observe, the world is blissfully unconcerned

vo kaalii-kaalii badaliyaa.N, ufaq pe ho ga_ii ayaa.n
vo ik hajuum-e-maikashaa.n, hai suu-e-maikadaa ravaa.n
Those dark clouds that are now on the horizon
How they sway like inebriated taverns

ye kyaa gumaa.n hai badagumaa.n, samajh na mujhako naatavaa.n
Kayaal-e-zohd abhii kahaa.N?
abhii to mai.n javaan huu.N
What suspicions you have!
Don’t judge me so feeble
Why should I think of abstinence?
I am still young

ibaadato.n kaa zikr hai, nijaat kii bhii fikr hai
junuun hai savaab kaa, Kayaal hai azaab kaa
All this talk of worship, this worry about salvation
These rewards in heaven, those torments in hell

magar suno to sheK jii, ajiib shay hai.n aap bhii
bhalaa shabaab-o-aashiqii, alag hue bhii hai.n kabhii
Dear sir, how strange you are
Surely you know, youth and passion dance together

hasiin jalavaarez ho.n, adaae.n fitanaaKez ho.n
havaae.n itr_bez ho.n, to shauq kyuu.N na tez ho.n?
Beautiful women, resplendent and full of mischief
Brought to me by the wind, how can I resist?

nigaarahaa-e-fitanaagar, koii idhar koii udhar
ubhaarate hai.n aish par, to kyaa kare koii bashar
Those playful lovers, some there, others here
When they so arouse, what is a man to fear?

chalo jii qissaa muKtasar, tumhaaraa nuqtaa-e-nazar
durust hai to ho magar, abhii to mai.n javaan huu.N
All right then, my story will be short
Critical looks abound
You are probably right but …
I am still young

ye Gasht kohasaar kii, ye sair juu-e-vaar kii
ye bulabulo.n ke chahachahe, ye gularuKo.n ke qahaqahe
These wandering mountains with gushing rivulets
Chirping nightingales, this laughter of lovely maidens

kisii se mel ho gayaa, to ra.nj-o-fikr kho gayaa
kabhii jo vaqt so gayaa, ye ha.Ns gayaa vo ro gayaa
I met someone, and fled all worry of anguish
Time stood still, there was some laughter, a few tears

ye ishq kii kahaaniyaa.N, ye ras bharii javaaniyaa.N
udhar se meharabaaniyaa.N, idhar se lantaraaniyaa.N
The stories of passion, youth filled with sweetness
Some kindness there, a little boasting here

ye aasmaan ye zamii.n, nazzaraahaa-e-dilanashii.n
une hayaat aafarii.n, bhalaa mai.n chho.D duu.N yahii.n
This heaven, this earth, these wonderful sights of His
Demands He a life well spent, my sins for me to leave

hai maut is qadar qarii.n, mujhe na aaegaa yaqii.n
nahii.n-nahii.n abhii nahii.n, nahii.n-nahii.n abhii nahii.n
abhii to mai.n javaan huu.N
That death could be so near, I cannot believe
No, not yet, not yet,
I am still young

Gam kushuud-o-bast kaa, bala.nd kaa na past ka
na buud kaa na hast kaa, na vaadaa-e-alast kaa
Not concerned am I with proximity or distance, zenith or nadir
My status or my existence, the promise of man’s creation

ummiid aur yaas gum, havaas gum qayaas gum
nazar se aas-paas gum, hamaa.n bajuz gilaas gum
I have lost hope and despair, reason and self-awareness
My vision is blurred, even my goblet have I misplaced

na may me.n kuchh kamii rahe, kadaa se hamadamii rahe
nishast ye jamii rahe, yahii hamaa.n hamii.n rahe
Let the wine not fail me, the friendship with the tavern grow
The evening remain the same, the gathering live on

vo raag chhe.D mutaribaa, tarab-fizaa, alam-rubaa
asar sadaa-e-saaz kaa, jiGar me.n aag de lagaa
Crooner, sing a melody, exhilarate me, snuff my ire
Influences of song and dance, set my soul on fire

har ik lab pe ho sadaa, na haath rok saaqiyaa
pilaae jaa pilaae jaa, pilaae jaa pilaae jaa
abhii to mai.n javaan huu.N
Everyone is imploring, don’t stop this flow of wine
Keep on pouring, keep on pouring
I am still young

Image Courtesy film Amar Prem

Urdu Poetry Translation

Mujh se pehli si mohabbat

Faiz Ahmed Faiz ( فیض احمد فیض; born 1911, died 1984) is one of the most famous modern Urdu poets, though he also wrote in Punjabi. Faiz was a member of the Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind (Progressive Writers’ Movement), and an avowed Marxist. In 1962 he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union (courtesy Wikipedia)

By Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Translated by Ayesha Khanna

mujh se pehli si mohabbat meray mehbub na maang
Don’t ask me for the love I once gave you, my love

mein ne samjha tha kay tu hai to darakhshaan hai hayaat
I thought if I had you, life would shine eternally for me
tera gham hai to gham-e-dahar ka jhagdra kya hai
With your heartaches, those of the universe would fade
teri surat se hai aalam mein bahaaron ko sabaat
Your face would bring permanence to every spring
teri aankhon ke sivaa duniya mein rakkha kya hai
What is there to treasure in this world but your eyes?
tu jo mil jaaye to taqdir niguun ho jaaye
If I found you, my fate would bow down to me
yun na tha mein ne faqat chahaa tha yun ho jaaye
It was not so, merely how I wished it to be
aur bhii dukh hain zamaane mein mohabbat ke sivaa
The times hold sorrows besides those of love
raahaten aur bhi vasl ki raahat ke sivaa
There is happiness other than the joy of union

anaginat sadiyon ki taarik bahimanaa talism
The dreadful magic of uncountable dark years
resham-o-atalas-o-kamkhvaab mein bunavaaye huye
Woven in silk, satin and brocade
jaa-ba-jaa bikate huye kuuchaa-o-baazaar mein jism
Bodies sold in every corner of the market
khaak mein lithade huye khuun mein nahalaaye huye
Covered in dust, bathed in blood
laut jaati hai udhar ko bhi nazar kyaa kije
Still returns my gaze in that direction, what can be done?
ab bhi dilkash hai tera husn magar kya kije
Even now your beauty is tantalizing, but what can I do?
aur bhii dukh hain zamaane mein mohabbat ke sivaa
The times hold sorrows besides those of love
raahaten aur bhi vasl ki raahat ke sivaa
There is happiness other than the joy of union

mujh se pehli si mohabbat meray mehbub na maang
Don’t ask me for the love I once gave you, my love

Images Courtesy the film An Evening in Paris

Urdu Poetry Translation

Hum Dekhain Gay

Faiz Ahmed Faiz ( فیض احمد فیض; born 1911, died 1984) is one of the most famous modern Urdu poets, though he also wrote in Punjabi. Faiz was a member of the Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind (Progressive Writers’ Movement), and an avowed Marxist. In 1962 he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union (courtesy Wikipedia)

By Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Translated by Ayesha Khanna

Hum Dekhain Gay
We shall see
Lazim Hai ke hum Bhi Dekhain Gay
It is necessary that we shall also see
Woh Din ke Jis ka Wadah Hai
That day which has been promised
Jo Loh-e-Azl pe Likha hai
Which is written with God’s ink
Hum Dekhain Gay
We shall see

Jab Zulm-o-Sitam ke Koh-e-garaan
When the mountains of cruelty and torture
Ruii ki Tarah Urd Jain Gay
Will fly like pieces of cotton
Hum Mehkumoon ke Paun Talay
Under the feet of the governed
Yeh Dharti Dhard Dhard Dhardkay gi
This earth will quake
Aur Ehl-e-Hukum ke Sar Uper
And over the head of the ruler
Jab Bijli kard Kard Kardke gi
When lightening will thunder
Hum Dekhain Gay
We shall see

Jab Arz-e-Khuda ke kabay se
When from God’s Mecca
Sab but Uthwaaiy Jain gay
All the idols will be shattered
Hum Ehl-e-Safa Mardood-e-Haram
Us people standing in the mosque
Masnad pe Bithaaiy jain gay
Will be elevated to a higher platform
Sab Taaj Uchalay jain gay
All the crowns will be tossed
Sab Takht Giraaiy Jain gay
All the thrones will be toppled

Bas Naam rahay Ga Allah ka
Then only God’s name will remain
Jo Ghayab Bhi hai Hazir Bhi
Who is both absent and present
Jo nazir bhi hai manzar bhi
Who is both the observer and the view itself
Uthay ga Analhaq ka Naara
When the anthem of truth will be raised
Jo Main bhi Hun aur Tumbhi ho
Who I am and you are as well
Aur Raaj karay gi khalq-e-Khuda
And the people of God will reign
Jo main bhi hun aur tum bhi ho
Who I am and you are as well

Hum Dekhain Gay
We shall see
Lazim Hai ke hum Bhi Dekhain Gay
It is necessary that we shall also see
Hum Dekhain Gay
We shall see

Urdu Poetry Translation

Bahar Aayee

Faiz Ahmed Faiz ( فیض احمد فیض; born 1911, died 1984) is one of the most famous modern Urdu poets, though he also wrote in Punjabi. Faiz was a member of the Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind (Progressive Writers’ Movement), and an avowed Marxist. In 1962 he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union (courtesy Wikipedia)

By Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Translated by Ayesha Khanna

bahar aayee
Spring has come
to jaisey yak baar laut aaye hain phir adum se
So have returned suddenly from the past
woh khaab sarey, shabaab sarey
All those dreams, all that beauty
jo terey honton pe mar mittey they
That on your lips had died
jo mit ke har baar phir jiye they
That had died and lived again each time
nikher gaye hain gulaaab sarey
All the roses are blooming
jo teri yadon se mushkboo hain
That still smell of your memories
jo terey ushaak ka lahoo hain
That are the blood of my love for you

ubal parey hain azaab sarey
All the torments are raging again
malaal-e-ihbay-e-doastaan bhi
That unheeded advice of friends
tumharey aaghosh-e-mehvashaan bhi
That intoxication of your embrace
ghubar-e-khatir ke baab sarey
The dust speckled old chapters
tirey humarey sawaal sarey, jawaab sarey
With all our questions, all our answers
bahaar aayee
Spring has come
to khul gaye hain
So have opened
neye sirrey se hisaab sarey
All those journals of my love anew

Urdu Poetry Translation

Ranjish Hi Sahi

Ahmed Faraz (Urdu: احمد فراز) was considered one of the greatest modern Urdu poets of the last century. He died in Islamabad on August 25, 2008. Outspoken about politics, he went into self-imposed exile during the Zia-ul-Haq era after he was arrested for reciting certain poems at a mushaira criticizing the military rule. He stayed for 6 years in Britain, Canada and Europe before returning to Pakistan. He has been awarded with numerous national and international awards. (courtesy Wikipedia)

By Ahmed Faraz
Translated by Ayesha Khanna

Ranjish hi sahi dil hi dukhaanay kay liyay aa
Let it be anguish, come still to torment my heart
aa phir say mujhay chhorr kay jaanay kay liyay aa
Come, even if to leave me again

pehlay say maraasim na sahi phir bhi kabhi to
If not for our past association
rasm-o-rahay duniya hi nibhaanay kay liyay aa
Come to fulfill the rituals of the world

kis kis ko bataayengay judaai kaa sabab ham
Who else must I explain the reason of separation
tu mujh se khafaa hai to zamaanay kay liyay aa
Come, despite your displeasure, to continue the ceremony

kuchh to meri pindaar-e-mohabbat ka bharam rakh
Respect a little the depth of my love for you
tu bhi to kabhi mujh ko manaanay kay liyay aa
Come someday to placate me as well

ek umr say hun lazzat-e-giryaa se bhi mehruum
Too long have I been deprived of the pathos of longing
aye raahat-e-jaan mujh ko rulaanay kay liyay aa
Come my love, if only to make me weep again

ab tak dil-e-khush_feham ko tujh say hain ummeedain
Till now, my heart suffers from some expectation
ye aakhari shammain bhi bujhaanay kay liyay aa
Come to snuff even these last candles of hope

Images Courtesy the film Dhoom

Urdu Poetry Translation

Zindagii Se Darate Ho

Noon Meem Rashid (b. 1910 – 9 October 1975) is considered to be the father of Modernism in Urdu Literature. Along with Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he is by far the greatest poet in the history of Pakistani literature. His themes run from the struggle against oppression to the relationship between words and meanings, between language and awareness and the creative process that produces poetry and other arts. Though intellectually deep, he was often attacked for his unconventional views and life-style. He rebelled against the traditional form of ‘ghazal’ and became the first major exponent of free verse in Urdu Literature. (courtesy Wikipedia)

By Noon Meem Rashid
Translated by Ayesha Khanna

zindagii se Darate ho?
You are afraid of life?
zindagii to tum bhii ho, zindagii to ham bhii hai.n!
But you are life, and I am too!
aadamii se Darate ho?
You are afraid of man?
aadamii to tum bhii ho aadamii to ham bhii hai.n!
But you are man, and I am too!
aadamii zubaa.N bhii hai, aadamii bayaa.N bhii hai
Man is hearsay, man is fact as well
is se tum nahii.n Darate!
It is not him you fear!
harf aur maanii ke rishte haaye aahan se aadamii hai vaabastaa
To syntax and semantics is man tied
aadamii ke daaman se zindagii hai vaabastaa
To man is life inextricably tied
is se tum nahii.n Darate!
It is not him you fear!
ankahii se Darate ho
You fear the unspoken
jo abhii aa_ii nahii.n us gha.Dii se Darate ho
That which has not come, that moment you fear
us gha.Dii ke aane kii aag hii se Darate ho!
The fire of that moment, this is what you fear!

pahale bhii to guzare hai.n
But times have come and gone before
daur naarasaa_ii ke, beriyaa, Khudaa_ii ke
Epochs of failure, centuries of godliness
phir bhii ye samajhate ho, hech aazaruumandii
Still you believe it is meaningless to aspire
ye shab zubaa.Nbandii, hai rahe Khudaabandii!
That silence is a way to avoid divine ire!
tum yahii samajhate ho, tum magar ye kyaa jaano?
You believe this, but what would you know?
lab agar nahii.n hilate haath jaag uThate hai.n
If lips fall silent, the hands arise
haath jaag uThate hai.n raah kaa nishaan ban kar
As signs that point to the path that is right
nuur kii zubaa.N ban kar
Becoming the voice of light
haath bol uThate hai.n subah kii azaa.N ban kar
Calling to prayer after the night
roshanii se Darate ho?
You are afraid of light?
roshanii to tum bhii ho, roshanii to ham bhii hai.n
But you are light, and I am too
roshanii se Darate ho!
You are afraid of light!

shahar kii fasiilo.n par
From the walls of the city
dev kaa jo saayaa thaa, paak ho gayaa aaKhir
The shadow of evil was removed finally
raat ka labada bhi
Night’s garb of darkness
chaak ho gaya aakhir, khaakh ho gaya aakhir
Torn finally, made ashes to dust finally
az_dahaam-e-afsaa.N se fard kii navaa aa_ii
Then from humanity, one man’s voice sounds
zaat kii sadaa aa_ii
The cry of the Self arrives
raah-e-shauq me.n jaise raah_ravii Khuu.N lapake
Like in the path of love, love’s passion leaps
ik nayaa junuu.N lapake!
A new exhilaration abounds!
aadamii chhalak uThe
Mankind awakes
aadamii ha.Nse dekho, shahar phir base dekho
Watch him smile, see cities come to life
tum abhii se Darate ho?
Is it the present you fear?
haa.N abhii to tum bhii ho, haa.N abhii to ham bhii hai.n
But present you are, and I am too
tum abhii se Darate ho!
It is the present you fear!

Urdu Poetry Translation

Yeh Hai Meri Kahani

Translated by Ayesha Khanna
Sung By: Strings & John Abraham

yeh hai meri kahani
this is my story
khamosh zindagani
my voiceless existence
sannata keh raha hai
where even silence questions
kyun zulm seh raha hai
why I bear such injustice

ek dastaan purani
an ancient tale
tanhayi ki zubani
hearsay of solitude
her zakham khil raha hai
where each wound blossoms
kuch mujh se keh raha hai
to whisper softly to me

chubtay kantay yadoon ke daaman say chunta hoon
where I pick the thorns of my memories
girti deewaron ke aanchal mai zinda hoon
and live behind the veil of falling walls

bass yeh meri kahani
this, this is my story
benishaan nishaani
my unremarkable mark
ek darr beh raha hai
where fear trickles down
kuch mujh se keh raha hai
to whisper softly to me

bajay pyaar ki shabnum mere gulistaan mein
the dew of love glistens
baraste rehte hain har simt maut ke saye
yet death haunts every corner
siyahiyon se ulajh padti hain meri aankhein
eyes weary of inky shadows
koi nahi .. koi bhi nahi jo batlaye
but no one … no one to tell
main kitni der ujalon ki raah dekhoon gaa
how long till light appears
koi nahi hai koi bhi nahi
no one … there is no one
na pass na durr
not near, not far

ek pyaar hai
this is love
dil ki dharkan
this heartbeat
apni chahat ka jo ellan kiye jaati hai
that keeps announcing its presence
zindagi hai jo jiye jaati hai
life is validated by living
khoon k ghoont peay jaati hai
that continues persevering
khwaab kaanton se siye jaati hai
dreams are woven by dreaming

ab na koi paas hai
alone
phir bhi ehsaas hai
and still i sense
siyahiyon mai uljhi padi
entangled in darkness
jeene ki ek aas hai
an inchoate desire to live

yadoon ka jungle yeh dil
jungle of reminiscences, this heart
kaanton se jal thal yeh dil
strewn with thistles, this heart

chubtay kantay yadoon ke daaman say chunta hoon
where I pick the thorns of my memories
girti deewaron ke aanchal mai zinda hoon
and live behind the veil of falling walls