For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
کہ کچھ رات کٹے ۔ ناصرؔ کاظمی
۱
درد کم ہونے لگا آؤ کہ کچھ رات کٹے
غم کی میعاد بڑھا جاؤ کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۲
ہجر میں آہ و بکا رسمِ کہن ہے لیکن
آج یہ رسم ہی دہراؤ کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۳
یوں تو تم روشنیٔ قلب و نظر ہو لیکن
آج وہ معجزہ دکھلاؤ کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۴
دل دُکھاتا ہے وہ مل کر بھی مگر آج کی رات
اسی بے درد کو لے آؤ کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۵
دم گھٹا جاتا ہے افسردہ دلی سے یارو
کوئی افواہ ہی پھیلاؤ کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۶
میں بھی بیکار ہوں اور تم بھی ہو ویران بہت
دوستو آج نہ گھر جاؤ کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۷
چھوڑ آئے ہو سر شام اُسے کیوں ناصرؔ
اُسے پھر گھر سے بلا لاؤ کہ کچھ رات کٹے
के कुछ रात कटे – नासेर काज़ीमी
१
दर्द कम होने लगा आओ के कुछ रात कटे
ग़म की मे’आद बढ़ा जाओ के कुछ रात कटे
२
हिज्र में आह-ओ-बुका रस्म-ए-कोहन है लेकिन
आज ये रस्म ही दोहराओ के कुछ रात कटे
३
यूँ तो तुम रौशनी-ए-क़ल्ब-ओ-नज़र हो लेकिन
आज वो मो’जज़ा दिखलाओ के कुछ रात कटे
४
दिल दुखाता है वो मिल कर भी मगर आज की रात
उसी बे-दर्द को ले आओ के कुछ रात कटे
५
दम घुटा जाता है अफ़्सुर्दा-दिली से यारो
कोई अफ़्वाह ही फैलाओ के कुछ रात कटे
६
मैं भी बे-कार हूँ और तुम भी हो वीरान बहुत
दोस्तो आज न घर जाओ के कुछ रात कटे
७
छोड़ आए हो सर-ए-शाम उसे क्यूँ नासेर
उसे फिर घर से बुला लाओ के कुछ रात कटे
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. naasir kazimi (1923-1972) migrated to pakistan. Several of his compostions are interpreted as mourning the loss of home, familiar surroundings and identity. In this Ghazal he writes about his night of loneliness and despair. Is he missing his beloved? or his erstwhile homeland?
1
dard kam hone laga aao ki kuchh raat kaTe
Gham ki me’aad1 baRha jaao ki kuchh raat kaTe 1.duration, period, term (of sentence)
The poet/lover values the pain that the beloved causes him and asks for more to stoically and lovingly bear all that she gives him. The only way to pass this long night of oppression/separation/exile is to recall painful memories. Thus, as the pain subsides, he calls upon her to come and bestow some more, to increase the period of his sentence/pain, otherwise it is too difficult to pass this long night.
2
hijr1 meN aah-o-buka2 rasm-e-kohan3 hai lekin
aaj ye rasm hi doharao4 ki kuchh raat kaTe 1.separation (from the beloved) or being away from home/homeland 2.sighs and wails 3.old tradition 4.repeat, do it again
He is calling upon himself and his fellow sufferers. Sighing and sobbing is an old tradition when away from home (or the beloved). Never the less, let us do it all over again so that this long night may pass.
3
yuuN to tum raushni-e-qalb1-o-nazar ho lekin
aaj vo mo’jiza2 dikhlao ki kuchh raat kaTe 1.heart 2.miracle
You (beloved or homeland) are the light/comfort of my heart and eyes anyway i.e. your thought/sight gives me comfort, but today do something special – conjure up a miracle that this long night may pass.
4
dil dukhata hai vo mil kar bhi magar aaj ki raat
usi be-dard1 ko le aao ki kuchh raat kaTe 1.pitiless, cruel
When the beloved (or memories of the homeland) arrive, the heart hurts, but still, call the same pitiless one that this long night may pass.
5
dam ghuTa jaata hai afsurda1-dili se yaaro
koi afvaah2 hi phailao ki kuchh raat kaTe 1.wilted, sorrowful 2.rumour
I am suffocating under the burden of this sorrowful heart. I know that she will not come, but at least spread a rumour so that this long night may pass.
6
maiN bhi be-kaar1 huuN aur tum bhi ho viraan2 bahut
dosto aaj na ghar jaao ki kuchh raat kaTe 1.idle 2.desolate, lonely
Friends, fellow lovers have been together during the early part of the night and now it is time to go home. The suffering poet/lover faced with a long night calls upon them to stay until the night passes.
7
chhoR aaye ho sar-e-sham1 use kyuN naasir
use phir ghar se bula laao ki kuchh raat kaTe 1.early evening or late stage of life
Why did you leave her early in the evening (or why did you leave home so late in life) O, naasir. Call her back again, so this long night may pass.
naasir kazimi (1923-1972) migrated to pakistan. Several of his compostions are interpreted as mourning the loss of home, familiar surroundings and identity. In this Ghazal he writes about his night of loneliness and despair. Is he missing his beloved? or his erstwhile homeland?
1
dard kam hone laga aao ki kuchh raat kaTe
Gham ki me’aad1 baRha jaao ki kuchh raat kaTe
1.duration, period, term (of sentence)
The poet/lover values the pain that the beloved causes him and asks for more to stoically and lovingly bear all that she gives him. The only way to pass this long night of oppression/separation/exile is to recall painful memories. Thus, as the pain subsides, he calls upon her to come and bestow some more, to increase the period of his sentence/pain, otherwise it is too difficult to pass this long night.
2
hijr1 meN aah-o-buka2 rasm-e-kohan3 hai lekin
aaj ye rasm hi doharao4 ki kuchh raat kaTe
1.separation (from the beloved) or being away from home/homeland 2.sighs and wails 3.old tradition 4.repeat, do it again
He is calling upon himself and his fellow sufferers. Sighing and sobbing is an old tradition when away from home (or the beloved). Never the less, let us do it all over again so that this long night may pass.
3
yuuN to tum raushni-e-qalb1-o-nazar ho lekin
aaj vo mo’jiza2 dikhlao ki kuchh raat kaTe
1.heart 2.miracle
You (beloved or homeland) are the light/comfort of my heart and eyes anyway i.e. your thought/sight gives me comfort, but today do something special – conjure up a miracle that this long night may pass.
4
dil dukhata hai vo mil kar bhi magar aaj ki raat
usi be-dard1 ko le aao ki kuchh raat kaTe
1.pitiless, cruel
When the beloved (or memories of the homeland) arrive, the heart hurts, but still, call the same pitiless one that this long night may pass.
5
dam ghuTa jaata hai afsurda1-dili se yaaro
koi afvaah2 hi phailao ki kuchh raat kaTe
1.wilted, sorrowful 2.rumour
I am suffocating under the burden of this sorrowful heart. I know that she will not come, but at least spread a rumour so that this long night may pass.
6
maiN bhi be-kaar1 huuN aur tum bhi ho viraan2 bahut
dosto aaj na ghar jaao ki kuchh raat kaTe
1.idle 2.desolate, lonely
Friends, fellow lovers have been together during the early part of the night and now it is time to go home. The suffering poet/lover faced with a long night calls upon them to stay until the night passes.
7
chhoR aaye ho sar-e-sham1 use kyuN naasir
use phir ghar se bula laao ki kuchh raat kaTe
1.early evening or late stage of life
Why did you leave her early in the evening (or why did you leave home so late in life) O, naasir. Call her back again, so this long night may pass.
Key Search Words:
I love these ‘radeef’ series. First the ‘lagta hai ke tum ho,’ and now ‘ke kuch raat kate.’ I can think of others too, say ‘ahista ahista’ or ‘aaj ki raat.’ (I am not making a request, just observing).
Nasir Kazmi was a master of the simple sentiment. yet another who went too early. Vo hijr ki raat ka sitaara.
There is a series of 10 or so Ghazal/nazm on “aaj ki raat” – called mushaa’ere ki raat.