yaad – sulaiman Khateeb

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yaad bole to¹ takiye meN gajre ki baas²
jaise kevRe³ ka kaaNTa kaleje ke paas
yaad bole to bachpan meN chhoRe so gauN
jaise panghaT⁴ ke paani meN raadha ki chhauN⁵1. colloquially, “bole to” is “it means” 2. fragrance 3. Pandanus, screw pine, a fragrant, thorny plant 4. river bank or lake shore section usually constructed to make it easy to fetch water 5. shadow, reflection (in the water)
Memories are fragrance of kevRa on the pillow as you lay down to sleep. Nostalgia for the childhood home and adolescent encounters at water fetching time at the river bank.

yaad bole to Khaali¹ divaane ka Khwaab
ek bachche ka jaise adhoora² jawaab
yaad bole to palkaaN pe aaNsu ki loaT³
kaale baadal po chaandi ki chamkeeli goaT⁴1. only, merely 2. incomplete 3. stream 4. embroidered border
Pleasant memories are nothing particularly important, only foolish dreams (or dreams of a fool) which are never fulfilled. Sad memories of crying and pleasant images of sliver lining around dark clouds that look like an embroidered border.

yaad rote so aNkhiyaaN meN gori¹ ka roop
jaise paRte so paani² meN halki si dhoop
yaad bole to aaNsu ki TooTi laRi
ghup³ andhaare⁴ meN chhuTi so phuljhaRi1. fair damsel 2. falling water i.e. rain 3. pitch black 4. andhera – darkness
The poet/lover imagines/remembers his beloved’s shining countenance through tears. It is like soft sunshine in rain. Or, the breaking streams of tears like streams of sparkles in the dark.

yaad bole to joohi¹ ki khilti kali
sote baalak² ke hoNTaaN po jaise haNsi
yaad bole to reti³ po maddham⁴ lakeer
jaise baare⁵ meN uRti hai halki abeer⁶1. jasmine 2. child 3. sand 4. soft, faint 5. outside, in the open 6. incense Memories are like blooming jasmine, like a soft smile on the lips of a sleeping child. Memories of writing the beloved’s name on sand of the soft fragrance of incense in the open.

yaad bole to chilman ke pichchhe haNsi
duur jangal meN jaise koii raushni
yaad bole to bachpan ki bholi¹ niraas²
laal oodi³ dhanak⁴ ku pakaRne ki aas1. innocent, simple 2. niraasha – disappointment 3. red-purple 4. rainbow
Titillating memories of the beloved’s laughter behind the curtain, like a faraway shining light in the jungle. Memories of foolish disappointments at not being able to catch a rainbow.

yaad bole to aNkhiyaaN jhukaane ka naam
ek naqsha¹ banaa ko miTaane ka naam
yaad bole to dil meN chhupaane ki baat
chup zara soNch ko muskuraane ki baat1. sketch, image
Memories of making a sketch of the beloved and quickly erasing it before anyone could see. These memories are to be treasured and kept in the heart. Just to remember and smile softly.