This is a qaseeda – a panegyric verse in praise of something.  This is a praise of the pen, versification and of declaring independence from orthodoxy.  I could not find a print version anywhere in faraz’s books.  It is posted on youtube as a recitation by faraz at a private gathering.  I transcribed it painfully and cross-checked it to the best of my capability.  It is long.

In order to make it convenient to read, listen and ponder, I have divided it into 5 segments.

Khuda se Khitaab – ash’aar 01-12:  The poet addresses in terms of familiarity and equality, inviting him to come down to earth.  Implied in this a look at the variety, beauty, ugliness, injustice and oppression on earth and bland contentment in heaven.
aap apna hi hal – ash’aar 13-22:  The poet describes the human condition in which he/she has to struggle to make his/her own place on earth.  There is no room for prayer, there is a mixture of good and bad – take it as it comes.
mad’h-e qalam – ash’aar 23-31:  The poet praises the pen, and by implication poetic verse, in the most effusive terms.  The pen can see what angels cannot see.  The pen has granted the poet the ability to write.
dars-e qalam – ash’aar 32-40:  Lessons that the pen has taught the poet – lessons in humility, love, sense of justice and much more.  Very eloquent.
bai’at-e yaziid na kar – ash’aar 41-49:  The poet concludes with a high note – lessons learnt about taking a steadfast, principled stand.  He even declares a sort of equality of positions vis-à-vis god.

The audio, both ahmad faraz and my recitation is also posted in corresponding segments for easy listening.

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. ahmad faraz (1931-2008) popular love and romance poet as well as a substantial contributor to progressive themes. This is a qaseeda, composed in Ghazal structure but not considered a Ghazal. It is a continuous theme in praise of something or someone. Please click on the Overview tab to see the full description.
23
mere liye to hai sau baKhshishoN¹ ki ek baKhshish
qalam² keh afsar³ o tabl⁴ o alam⁵ se hai afzal⁶     1.gift, grant 2.pen 3.office, power 4.drum 5.banner 6.superior
Drum and banner (tabl o alam) are used as symbols of power. Thus, for me this one gift is better than a hundred gifts – the gift of the pen which is superior to high office of power and accompaniments of banner and drum.
24
yahi qalam hai keh jis ki sitaara-saazi¹ se
diloN meN jyot² jalaati hai ishq ki mash’al³     1.shaping/configuring stars i.e., writing fate 2.light 3.torch
It is this pen that writes its own fortune and through it the torch of love lights up the heart.
25
yahi qalam hai jo dil meN utaar leta hai
misaal¹-e mushk² GhazaaloN³ ki aaNkh se kaajal⁴     1.example of 2.musk 3.deer 4.collyrium
The musk deer not only gives the fragrance of musk but also has beautiful eyes … as if they were lined with collyrium. Thus, it is this pen that can borrow/steal musk from the deer and collyrium from its eyes – spreading beauty and fragrance.
26
yahi qalam hai jo dukh ki rutoN¹ meN baKhshta² hai
diloN ko pyaar ka marham³, sukoon⁴ ka sandal     1.seasons, times 2.grants 3.ointment 4.tranquility, peace
It is the same pen that grants, during times of sorrow, the balm of love and the sandlwood paste of peace and tranquility to broken hearts.
27
yahi qalam hai keh e’jaaz¹-e harf² se jis ke
tamaam³ ishva-taraazaan⁴-e shahr haiN paagal     1.miracle 2.words 3.all 4.luxury shaping
The ‘ishva-taraazaan-e shahr’ are the rich and powerful of the homeland who shape the rules to award themselves all the luxuries of life. It is the same pen, the miracle of whose words make the rich and powerful mad/angry.
28
yahi qalam hai keh jis ne mujhe ye dars¹ diya
keh saNg² o Khisht³ ki zad⁴ par raheNge shiish-mahal⁵     1.lesson 2.rocks 3.bricks 4.within limit/range 5.glass palaces
It is the same pen that taught me that glass palaces will remain within striking distance (within the limits) of rocks and brickbats.
29
yahi qalam hai keh jis ki sariir¹ ke aage
haiN surma-dar-gulu² KhooN-Khwaar³ lashkaroN⁴ ke bigal⁵     1.sound of pen scraping on paper 2.collyrium in the throat 3.fierce 4.armies 5.bugles
It is believed that if collyrium is swallowed or throat painted with collyrium then voice is lost. Thus, the bugles of fierce armies fall silent because of the sound of the scraping of the pen.
30
yahi qalam hai keh jis ke hunar¹ se nikle haiN
rah²-e hayaat³ ke Kham⁴ hoN keh zulf⁵-e yaar⁶ ke bal⁷     1.skill, talent 2.path 3.life 4.twists and turns 5.hair 6.beloved 7.curls
It is this pen whose skill shows us the twists and turns of the pathways of life or the beautiful curls of the beloved’s hair – thus, both the trials and tribulations of life and the beauty and love of the beloved.
31
yahi qalam hai keh jis ki ata¹ se mujh ko mile
ye chaahatoN ke shagoofe², mohabbatoN ke kaNval³     1.grant, gift 2.blossoms 3.lotus
It is the gift of this pen that has given me blossoms of admiration and lotus blooms of love.