For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Stanza by stanza posting of Grey, ameer chand bahaar and ali haidar nazm tabaatabaai.
gor-e GhariibaaN-bahaar
Elegy-Thomas Grey
گورِ غریباں ۔ امیر چند بہارؔ
۱
ہوا رُوپوش جب مہرِ منوّر چشمِ گیتی سے
سکوتِ شام میں واپس چلے کھیتوں سے چوپائے
مشقّت کا تھکا ماندہ ہوا دہقان بھی رخصت
فقط میں رہ گیا ہوں اِس جگہ یا ڈوبتے سائے
۲
سیاہی سی فضا میں گھل گئی آہستہ آہستہ
سوادِ شام کا ماحول پر چھایا ہے سنّاٹا
مگر سُنتا ہوں ایسے میں کبھی تو تان بھنورے کی
کبھی بانگِ جرس سے کانپتا ہے دل بیاباں کا
۳
کبھی ٹوٹے ہوئے گنبد سے اُلّو بول اُٹھتا ہے
مہِ تاباں کو اپنا حال یہ کہہ کر سناتا ہے
مجھے کیوں گوشۂ عُزلت میں کوئی چھیڑنے آئے
نکل کر گھر سے ویرانے میں کیوں اِنسان آتا ہے
۴
اُدھر کچھ مولسریوں کے درختوں کی قطاروں میں
کئی تنگ اور بوسیدہ سی قبریں بھی ہیں پوشیدہ
یہ بوسیدہ سی قبریں چادریں ہیں جن پہ سبزے کی
اِنھیں قبروں میں ہیں اِس گاؤں کے اسلاف خوابیدہ
۵
نسیمِ صبح گاہی یا ابابیلوں کی آوازیں
اُنھیں اب خوابِ غفلت سے جگانے کے نہیں قابل
صدا مرغے کی سنتے ہیں نہ غوغا اہلِ صحرا کا
غرض کوئی بھی شے اُن کو اُٹھانے کے نہیں قابل
۶
ہوئیں اِک قصّہِ پارینہ اب ماضی کی وہ شامیں
جب اُن کی واپسی پر گھر میں ہو جاتی تھی تابانی
نہ چشمِ منتظر سے بیبیاں اب راہ دیکھیں گی
نہ بچے دوڑ کر چومیں گے اُن لوگوں کی پیشانی
۷
درانتی ہاتھ میں لے کر کبھی آتے تھے کھیتوں میں
کبھی یہ ہل چلا کر سخت ڈھیلے پھوڑ دیتے تھے
یہی ہیں جو خوشی سے ہانکتے تھے اپنے بیلوں کو
یہی اِک ضرب سے گردن شجر کی توڑ دیتے تھے
۸
حقارت کی نظر سے دیکھنا اِن بے نواؤں کو
امیروں، کج کلاہوں کے لئے ہرگز نہیں اچھا
یہ مانا بے مزا ہے داستانِ زندگی اِن کی
غریبوں پر مگر زیبا نہیں یہ خندۂ زیبا
۹
بہت ناداں ہیں جو نازاں ہیں اپنی شان و شوکت پر
یہ دنیا چند روزہ ہے یہاں ہر چیز ہے فانی
جہاں ہر چیز کا انجام ہو مِٹی میں مل جانا
وہاں کیا چیز ہے یہ تاجِ شاہی، تختِ سلطانی
۱۰
نہیں کتبے کہیں اِن بے نواؤں کے مزاروں پر
برائے فاتحہ خوانی یہاں کوئی نہیں آتا
نظر آتے نہیں ہیں پھول بھی ان خستہ قبروں پر
یہ عالم ہے چراغ اِن پر کبھی روشن نہیں دیکھا
गोर-ए गरीबां – अमीर चंद बहार
१
हुआ रूपोश जब महर-ए मुनव्वर चश्म-ए गेती से
सुकूत-ए शाम में वापस चले खेतौं से चौपाए
मशक़्क़त का थका मांदा हुआ दहक़ान भी रुख़्सत
फ़क़त मैं रह गया हूं इस जगह या डूबते साए
२
सियाही सी फ़ज़ा में घुल गई है आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
सवाद-ए शाम का माहौल पर छाया है सन्नाटा
मगर सुन्ता हुं ऐसे में कभी तो तान भंवरे की
कभी बांग-ए जरस से कांपता है दिल बियाबां का
३
कभी टूटे हुए गुंबद से उल्लू बोल उठता है
मह-ए ताबां को अपना हाल ये कह कर सुनाता है
मुझे क्यूं गोशा-ए उज़्लत में कोई छेड़ने आए
निकल कर घर से वीराने में क्यूं इंसान आता है
४
उधर कुछ मोल्सर्यौं के दरख़्तौं की क़तारौं में
कई तंग और बोसीदा सि क़ब्रें भी हैं पोशीदा
ये बोसीदा सि क़ब्रें चादरें हैं जिन पे सब्ज़े की
इन्हीं क़ब्रौं में हैं इस गाऊं के अस्लाफ़ ख़्वाबीदा
५
नसीम-ए सुबह-गाही या अबाबीलौं कि आवाज़ें
उन्हें अब ख़्वाब-ए ग़फ़्लत से जगाने के नहीं क़ाबिल
सदा मुर्ग़े कि सुन्ते हैं न ग़ोग़ा अहल-ए सहरा का
ग़रज़ कोई भी शैय उन को उठाने के नहीं क़ाबिल
६
हुईं एक क़िस्सा-ए पारीना अब माज़ी की वो शामें
जब उन की वापसी पर घर में हो जाती थी ताबानी
न चश्म-ए मुंतज़र से बीबियां अब राह देखेंगी
न बच्चे दौढ कर चूमेंगे उन लोगौं कि पेशानी
७
दरांती हाथ में ले कर कभी आते थे खेतौं में
कभी ये हल चला कर सख़्त ढेले फोढ देते थे
यही हैं जो ख़ुशी से हांक्ते थे अपने बैलौं को
यही एक ज़र्ब से गर्दन शजर की तोढ देते थे
८
हिक़ारत की नज़र से देखना इन बेनवाऔं को
अमीरौं, कज-कुलोहौं के लिये हरगिज़ नहीं अच्छा
ये माना बे-मज़ा है दास्तान-ए ज़िन्दगी इन की
ग़रीबौं पर मगर ज़ेबा नहीं ये ख़ंदा-ए ज़ेबा
९
बहुत नादां हैं जो नाज़ां हैं अपनी शान ओ शौकत पर
ये दुनिया चंद-रोज़ा है यहां हर चीज़ है फ़ानी
जहां हर चीज़ का अंजाम हो मिट्टी में मिल जाना
वहां क्या चीज़ है ये ताज-ए शाही, तख़्त-ए सुल्तानी
१०
नहीं कत्बे कहीं इन बे-नवाऔं के मज़ारौं पर
बराए फ़ातहा-ख़्वानी यहां कोई नहीं आता
नज़र आते नहीं हैं फूल भी इन ख़स्ता क़ब्रौं पर
ये आलम है चराग़ इन पर कभी रौशन नहीं देखा
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. ameer chand bahaar (1925-xxxx). In spite of his eight collections, it was very difficult to assemble any facts about his life. He appears to have taught, first at government college, ludhiana and later at rohtak, probably English. He did also compose Ghazal but his specialty seems to be the rubaaii. He translated/transcomposed 26 English poems into urdu nazm format and published them as a collection called ‘naseem-e maGhrib’.
1
hua rooposh1 jab mahr2-e munavvar3 chashm4-e geti5 se
sukoot6-e shaam meN vaapas chale khetoN se chaupaaye
mashaqqat7 kar thaka maaNda hua dahaqaan8 bhi ruKhsat9
faqat10 maiN rah gaya huN is jagah ya Doobte saaye
1.disappear 2.sun 3.brilliant 4.eyes 5.world 6.silence 7.hard work 8.farmer 9.depart 10.only
The curfew tolls the knell of parting day
The lowing herd wind slowly over the lea
The ploughman homeward plods his weary way
And leaves the world to darkness and to me
2
siyaahi1 si faza2 meN ghul gaii hai aahista aahista
savaad3-e shaam ka maahaul4 par chhaaya hai sannaaTa5
magar sunta huN aise meN kabhi to taan bhaNwre ki
kabhi baaNg6-e jaras7 se kaaNpta8 hai dil biyabaaN9 ka 1.darkness 2.air 3.darkness 4.atmosphere 5.silence 6.ringing, tinkling, calling 7.bell 8.tremble, vibrate 9.wilderness, jungle
Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight
And all the air a solemn stillness holds
Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight
And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds
3
kabhi TooTe hue guNbad1 se ullu bol uThta hai
mah2-e taabaaN3 ko apna haal ye kah kar sunaata hai
mujhe kyuN gosha4-e uzlat5 meN koii chheRne aaye
nikal kar ghar se viiraane6 meN kyuN insaan aata hai 1.dome 2.moon 3.shining, full 4.corner 5.seclusion 6.wilderness
Save that from yonder ivy mantled tower
The moping owl does to the moon complain
Of such as wandering near her secret bower
Molest her ancient solitary reign
4
udhar kuchh molsariyoN1 ke daraKhtoN2 ki qataaroN3 meN
kaii taNg4 aur bosiida5 si qabreN bhi haiN poshiida6
ye bosiida7 si qabreN chaadareN haiN jin pe sabze ki
inhiN qabroN meN haiN is gaauN ke aslaaf7 Khwaabiida8 1.tree with jasmine like flower, used as a substitute/translation for elms 2.trees 3.line 4.narrow 5.decayed, dilapidated 6.hidden 7.elders 8.sleeping
Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree’s shade
Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap
Each in his narrow cell forever laid
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep
5
naseem1-e sub’h-gaahi2 ya abaabiiloN3 ki aavaazeN
unheN ab Khwaab4-e Ghaflat5 se jagaane ke nahiN qaabil6
sadaa7 murGhe ki sunte haiN na GhoGha8 ahl-e-sahra9 ka
Gharaz10 koii bhi sha’e un ko uThaane ke nahiN qaabil6 1.breeze 2.of dawn 3.bats 4.sleep 5.forgetfulness 6.able 7.sound, call 8.noise, drums 9.dwellers of the wilderness 10.after all 11.thing
The breezy call of incense-breathing morn
The swallow twittering from the straw built shed
The cock’s shrill clarion, or the echoeing horn
No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed
6
huiN ek qissa1-e paariina2 ab maazi3 ki vo shaameN
jab un ki vaapasi4 par ghar meN ho jaati thi taabaani5
na chashm6-e muntazar7 se biibiyaaN ab raah8 dekheNgi
na bachche dauR9 kar choomeNge10 un logoN ki peshaani11 1.story, legend 2.old 3.past 4.return 5.brightening, happiness 6.eye 7.waiting, anticipating 8.path/anticipating return 9.run 10.kiss 11.forehead
For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn
Or busy housewife ply her evening care
No children run to lisp their sire’s return
Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share
7
daraaNti1 haath meN le kar kabhi aate the khetoN meN
kabhi ye hal chala kar saKht2 Dhele3 phoR4 dete the
yahi haiN jo Khushi se haaNkte the apne bailoN ko
yahi ek zarb5 se gardan shajar6 ki toR dete the 1.sickle 2.hard 3.lump 4.break 5.blow 6.tree
Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield
Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke
How jocund did they drive their team afield
How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke
8
hiqaarat1 ki nazar2 se dekhna in be-navaaoN3 ko
amiiroN4, kaj-kulaahoN5 ke liye hargiz6 nahiN achchha
ye maana7 be-maza8 hai daastaan9-e zindagi in ki
GhariboN par magar zebaa10 nahiN ye Khanda-e-zeba11 1.disgust, disrespect 2.glance 3.silent 4.wealthy 5.tilted cap, doffed cap i.e. pride, hubris 6.never 7.agreed 8.tastless, uninteresting 9.story 10.decorative, suitable 11.beautiful (sarcasm for derisive/disdainful) smile
Let not Ambition mock their useful toil
Their homely joys and destiny obscure
Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
The short and simple annals of the poor
9
bahut naadaaN1 haiN jo naazaaN2 haiN apni shaan-o-shaukat3 par
ye duniya chand-roza4 hai yahaaN har cheez hai faani5
jahaaN har cheez ka anjaam6 ho miTTi meN mil jaana
vahaaN kya cheez hai ye taaj-e shaahi, taKht7-e sultaani8 1.simpleton, fools 2.boastful, vain 3.glory and pomp 4.few days 5.mortal, temporary 6.result 7.throne 8.royalty
The boast of heraldry the pomp of power
And all that beauty and all that wealth ever gave
Await the inevitable hour
The paths of glory lead but to the grave
10
nahiN katbe1 kahiN in be-navaaoN2 ke mazaaroN3 par
baraa’e4 faateha-Khwaani5 yahaaN koii nahiN aata
nazar6 aate nahiN haiN phool bhi in Khasta7 qabroN8 par
ye aalam9 hai charaaGh in par kabhi raushan nahiN dekha 1.gravestone engravings 2.silent 3.graves 4.for the sake of 5.singing psalms, ritual prayers 6.sighted, seen 7.broken, dilapidated 8.graves 9.condition
Nor you ye proud impute to these the fault
If Memory over their tomb no trophies raise
Where through the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault
The pealing anthem swells the note of praise
ameer chand bahaar (1925-xxxx). In spite of his eight collections, it was very difficult to assemble any facts about his life. He appears to have taught, first at government college, ludhiana and later at rohtak, probably English. He did also compose Ghazal but his specialty seems to be the rubaaii. He translated/transcomposed 26 English poems into urdu nazm format and published them as a collection called ‘naseem-e maGhrib’.
1
hua rooposh1 jab mahr2-e munavvar3 chashm4-e geti5 se
sukoot6-e shaam meN vaapas chale khetoN se chaupaaye
mashaqqat7 kar thaka maaNda hua dahaqaan8 bhi ruKhsat9
faqat10 maiN rah gaya huN is jagah ya Doobte saaye
1.disappear 2.sun 3.brilliant 4.eyes 5.world 6.silence 7.hard work 8.farmer 9.depart 10.only
The curfew tolls the knell of parting day
The lowing herd wind slowly over the lea
The ploughman homeward plods his weary way
And leaves the world to darkness and to me
2
siyaahi1 si faza2 meN ghul gaii hai aahista aahista
savaad3-e shaam ka maahaul4 par chhaaya hai sannaaTa5
magar sunta huN aise meN kabhi to taan bhaNwre ki
kabhi baaNg6-e jaras7 se kaaNpta8 hai dil biyabaaN9 ka
1.darkness 2.air 3.darkness 4.atmosphere 5.silence 6.ringing, tinkling, calling 7.bell 8.tremble, vibrate 9.wilderness, jungle
Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight
And all the air a solemn stillness holds
Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight
And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds
3
kabhi TooTe hue guNbad1 se ullu bol uThta hai
mah2-e taabaaN3 ko apna haal ye kah kar sunaata hai
mujhe kyuN gosha4-e uzlat5 meN koii chheRne aaye
nikal kar ghar se viiraane6 meN kyuN insaan aata hai
1.dome 2.moon 3.shining, full 4.corner 5.seclusion 6.wilderness
Save that from yonder ivy mantled tower
The moping owl does to the moon complain
Of such as wandering near her secret bower
Molest her ancient solitary reign
4
udhar kuchh molsariyoN1 ke daraKhtoN2 ki qataaroN3 meN
kaii taNg4 aur bosiida5 si qabreN bhi haiN poshiida6
ye bosiida7 si qabreN chaadareN haiN jin pe sabze ki
inhiN qabroN meN haiN is gaauN ke aslaaf7 Khwaabiida8
1.tree with jasmine like flower, used as a substitute/translation for elms 2.trees 3.line 4.narrow 5.decayed, dilapidated 6.hidden 7.elders 8.sleeping
Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree’s shade
Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap
Each in his narrow cell forever laid
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep
5
naseem1-e sub’h-gaahi2 ya abaabiiloN3 ki aavaazeN
unheN ab Khwaab4-e Ghaflat5 se jagaane ke nahiN qaabil6
sadaa7 murGhe ki sunte haiN na GhoGha8 ahl-e-sahra9 ka
Gharaz10 koii bhi sha’e un ko uThaane ke nahiN qaabil6
1.breeze 2.of dawn 3.bats 4.sleep 5.forgetfulness 6.able 7.sound, call 8.noise, drums 9.dwellers of the wilderness 10.after all 11.thing
The breezy call of incense-breathing morn
The swallow twittering from the straw built shed
The cock’s shrill clarion, or the echoeing horn
No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed
6
huiN ek qissa1-e paariina2 ab maazi3 ki vo shaameN
jab un ki vaapasi4 par ghar meN ho jaati thi taabaani5
na chashm6-e muntazar7 se biibiyaaN ab raah8 dekheNgi
na bachche dauR9 kar choomeNge10 un logoN ki peshaani11
1.story, legend 2.old 3.past 4.return 5.brightening, happiness 6.eye 7.waiting, anticipating 8.path/anticipating return 9.run 10.kiss 11.forehead
For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn
Or busy housewife ply her evening care
No children run to lisp their sire’s return
Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share
7
daraaNti1 haath meN le kar kabhi aate the khetoN meN
kabhi ye hal chala kar saKht2 Dhele3 phoR4 dete the
yahi haiN jo Khushi se haaNkte the apne bailoN ko
yahi ek zarb5 se gardan shajar6 ki toR dete the
1.sickle 2.hard 3.lump 4.break 5.blow 6.tree
Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield
Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke
How jocund did they drive their team afield
How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke
8
hiqaarat1 ki nazar2 se dekhna in be-navaaoN3 ko
amiiroN4, kaj-kulaahoN5 ke liye hargiz6 nahiN achchha
ye maana7 be-maza8 hai daastaan9-e zindagi in ki
GhariboN par magar zebaa10 nahiN ye Khanda-e-zeba11
1.disgust, disrespect 2.glance 3.silent 4.wealthy 5.tilted cap, doffed cap i.e. pride, hubris 6.never 7.agreed 8.tastless, uninteresting 9.story 10.decorative, suitable 11.beautiful (sarcasm for derisive/disdainful) smile
Let not Ambition mock their useful toil
Their homely joys and destiny obscure
Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
The short and simple annals of the poor
9
bahut naadaaN1 haiN jo naazaaN2 haiN apni shaan-o-shaukat3 par
ye duniya chand-roza4 hai yahaaN har cheez hai faani5
jahaaN har cheez ka anjaam6 ho miTTi meN mil jaana
vahaaN kya cheez hai ye taaj-e shaahi, taKht7-e sultaani8
1.simpleton, fools 2.boastful, vain 3.glory and pomp 4.few days 5.mortal, temporary 6.result 7.throne 8.royalty
The boast of heraldry the pomp of power
And all that beauty and all that wealth ever gave
Await the inevitable hour
The paths of glory lead but to the grave
10
nahiN katbe1 kahiN in be-navaaoN2 ke mazaaroN3 par
baraa’e4 faateha-Khwaani5 yahaaN koii nahiN aata
nazar6 aate nahiN haiN phool bhi in Khasta7 qabroN8 par
ye aalam9 hai charaaGh in par kabhi raushan nahiN dekha
1.gravestone engravings 2.silent 3.graves 4.for the sake of 5.singing psalms, ritual prayers 6.sighted, seen 7.broken, dilapidated 8.graves 9.condition
Nor you ye proud impute to these the fault
If Memory over their tomb no trophies raise
Where through the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault
The pealing anthem swells the note of praise
Elegy in a Country Churchyard – Thomas Grey
1
The curfew tolls the knell of parting day
The lowing herd wind slowly over the lea
The ploughman homeward plods his weary way
And leaves the world to darkness and to me
2
Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight
And all the air a solemn stillness holds
Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight
And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds
3
Save that from yonder ivy mantled tower
The moping owl does to the moon complain
Of such as wandering near her secret bower
Molest her ancient solitary reign
4
Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree’s shade
Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap
Each in his narrow cell forever laid
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep
5
The breezy call of incense-breathing morn
The swallow twittering from the straw built shed
The cock’s shrill clarion, or the echoeing horn
No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed
6
For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn
Or busy housewife ply her evening care
No children run to lisp their sire’s return
Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share
7
Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield
Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke
How jocund did they drive their team afield
How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke
8
Let not Ambition mock their useful toil
Their homely joys and destiny obscure
Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
The short and simple annals of the poor
9
The boast of heraldry the pomp of power
And all that beauty and all that wealth ever gave
Await the inevitable hour
The paths of glory lead but to the grave
10
Nor you ye proud impute to these the fault
If Memory over their tomb no trophies raise
Where through the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault
The pealing anthem swells the note of praise
1
ameer chand bahaar
hua rooposh1 jab mahr2-e munavvar3 chashm4-e geti5 se
sukoot6-e shaam meN vaapas chale khetoN se chaupaaye
mashaqqat7 kar thaka maaNda hua dahaqaan8 bhi ruKhsat9
faqat10 maiN rah gaya huN is jagah ya Doobte saaye
ali haidar nazm tabaatabaaii
vidaa1 e roz-e-raushan2 hai gajar3 shaam-e-GharibaaN4 ka
charagaahoN5 se palTe qafile6 vo bezabaanoN7 ke
qadam ghar ki taraf kis shauq se uThta hai dahqaaN8 ka
ye veeraana9 hai maiN huN aur taa’er10 aashiyaanoN11 ke
Thomas Grey
The curfew tolls the knell of parting day
The lowing herd wind slowly over the lea
The ploughman homeward plods his weary way
And leaves the world to darkness and to me
2
ameer chand bahaar
siyaahi1 si faza2 meN ghul gaii hai aahista aahista
savaad3-e shaam ka maahaul4 par chhaaya hai sannaaTa5
magar sunta huN aise meN kabhi to taan bhaNwre ki
kabhi baaNg6-e jaras7 se kaaNpta8 hai dil biyabaaN9 ka
ali haidar nazm tabaatabaaii
andhera chhaa gaya duniya nazar se chhupti jaati hai
jidhar dekho uTha kar aankh udhar ek hoo1 ka hai aalam
magas2 laikin kisi jaa3 bhairaviN4 be-vaqt5 gaati hai
jaras6 ki duur se aavaaz aati hai kahiN paiham7
Thomas Grey
Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight
And all the air a solemn stillness holds
Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight
And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds
3
ameer chand bahaar
kabhi TooTe hue guNbad1 se ullu bol uThta hai
mah2-e taabaaN3 ko apna haal ye kah kar sunaata hai
mujhe kyuN gosha4-e uzlat5 meN koii chheRne aaye
nikal kar ghar se viiraane6 meN kyuN insaan aata hai
ali haidar nazm tabaatabaaii
kabhi ek gunbad-e-kuhna1 pe bom2 e Khanuma-veeraN3
falak4 ko dekh kar shikvoN5 ka daftar6 baaz-karta7 hai
keh duniya se alag ek gosha-e-uzlat8 meN huN pinhaaN9
koi phir kyuN qadam is kunj-e-tanhaaii10 meN rakhta hai
Thomas Grey
Save that from yonder ivy mantled tower
The moping owl does to the moon complain
Of such as wandering near her secret bower
Molest her ancient solitary reign
4
ameer chand bahaar
udhar kuchh molsariyoN1 ke daraKhtoN2 ki qataaroN3 meN
kaii taNg4 aur bosiida5 si qabreN bhi haiN poshiida6
ye bosiida7 si qabreN chaadareN haiN jin pe sabze ki
inhiN qabroN meN haiN is gaauN ke aslaaf7 Khwaabiida8
ali haidar nazm tabaatabaaii
qataar1 ek saamne hai moolsariyoN2 ke daraKhtoN3 ki
vahaaN qabreN haiN kuchh miTTi ke jaise Dher hote haiN
har ek ne mar ke bas do-gaz4 kafan5 gaz bhar zamiN paaii
basane vaale jo is gaauN ke thhe` sub vo sote haiN
Thomas Grey
Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree’s shade
Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap
Each in his narrow cell forever laid
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep
5
ameer chand bahaar
naseem1-e sub’h-gaahi2 ya abaabiiloN3 ki aavaazeN
unheN ab Khwaab4-e Ghaflat5 se jagaane ke nahiN qaabil6
sadaa7 murGhe ki sunte haiN na GhoGha8 ahl-e-sahra9 ka
Gharaz10 koii bhi sha’e un ko uThaane ke nahiN qaabil6
ali haidar nazm tabaatabaaii
nafas1 baad-e-sahr2 ka, naala3-e pur-dard4 bulbul ka
hue bekaar sub unko uTha sakta nahiN koi
rahi be-faaeda5 mastoN-ki-huu6 haq-shor7 qulqul8 ka
haiN aise neend ke maare jaga sakta nahiN koi
Thomas Grey
The breezy call of incense-breathing morn
The swallow twittering from the straw built shed
The cock’s shrill clarion, or the echoeing horn
No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed
6
ameer chand bahaar
huiN ek qissa1-e paariina2 ab maazi3 ki vo shaameN
jab un ki vaapasi4 par ghar meN ho jaati thi taabaani5
na chashm6-e muntazar7 se biibiyaaN ab raah8 dekheNgi
na bachche dauR9 kar choomeNge10 un logoN ki peshaani11
ali haidar nazm tabaatabaaii
na choolhe, aag raushan hai na ab unke ghaRe paani
na ghar vaaloN ko ab kuchh kaam hai fikr-e-shabistaaN1 se
na bibi2 ko sar-e-shaam3 intezaar4 ab hai na hairaani5
na bachche dauRte haiN ab ke lapTeN aa ke damaaN6 se
Thomas Grey
For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn
Or busy housewife ply her evening care
No children run to lisp their sire’s return
Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share
7
ameer chand bahaar
daraaNti1 haath meN le kar kabhi aate the khetoN meN
kabhi ye hal chala kar saKht2 Dhele3 phoR4 dete the
yahi haiN jo Khushi se haaNkte the apne bailoN ko
yahi ek zarb5 se gardan shajar6 ki toR dete the
ali haidar nazm tabaatabaaii
vahi haiN ye jinheN vaqt-e-daru1 mohlat2 na thi dam-bhar3
vahi haiN haath chalte rahte the beshtar4 jin ke
vahi haiN ye jinhoN ne hal chalaaye geet gaa gaa kar
baRe sarkash5 daraKhtoN ko giraate thhe` tabar6 jin ke
Thomas Grey
Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield
Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke
How jocund did they drive their team afield
How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke
8
ameer chand bahaar
hiqaarat1 ki nazar2 se dekhna in be-navaaoN3 ko
amiiroN4, kaj-kulaahoN5 ke liye hargiz6 nahiN achchha
ye maana7 be-maza8 hai daastaan9-e zindagi in ki
GhariboN par magar zebaa10 nahiN ye Khanda-e-zeba11
ali haidar nazm tabaatabaaii
na dekheN haal in logoN ka zillat1 ki nigaahoN se
bhara hai jin ke sar meN Ghurra2 e navvaabi3 o Khaani4
ye inka kaasa5-e sar kah raha hai kaj-kulaahoN6 se
ajab7 nadaaN8 haiN vo jinko hai ujb9-e taaj-e-sultaani10
Thomas Grey
Let not Ambition mock their useful toil
Their homely joys and destiny obscure
Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
The short and simple annals of the poor
9
ameer chand bahaar
bahut naadaaN1 haiN jo naazaaN2 haiN apni shaan-o-shaukat3 par
ye duniya chand-roza4 hai yahaaN har cheez hai faani5
jahaaN har cheez ka anjaam6 ho miTTi meN mil jaana
vahaaN kya cheez hai ye taaj-e shaahi, taKht7-e sultaani8
ali haidar nazm tabaatabaaii
nahiN shayaan1-e faKhr2 o naaz3-e naubat4 aur naqqaara5
jo nazaaN6 jaah-o-sarwat7 par haiN un par maut haNsti hai
vo saa’at8 aane vaali hai nahiN jis se koii chaara9
ke faani10 hai jahaaN11 har auj12 ka anjaam13 pasti14 hai
Thomas Gray
The boast of heraldry the pomp of power
And all that beauty and all that wealth ever gave
Await the inevitable hour
The paths of glory lead but to the grave
10
ameer chand bahaar
nahiN katbe1 kahiN in be-navaaoN2 ke mazaaroN3 par
baraa’e4 faateha-Khwaani5 yahaaN koii nahiN aata
nazar6 aate nahiN haiN phool bhi in Khasta7 qabroN8 par
ye aalam9 hai charaaGh in par kabhi raushan nahiN dekha
ali haidar nazm tabaatabaaii
nazar aate nahiN katbe1 mazaaroN2 par to kya Gham hai
chiraGhaaN aur sandal aur gul-o-rehaaN3 na hoN to kya
nahiN namgeera4 o kamKhwaab5 ki chaadar to kya Gham hai
jo Khush-aahang6 koii qaari-e-qura’aN7 na ho to kya
Thomas Grey
Nor you ye proud impute to these the fault
If Memory over their tomb no trophies raise
Where through the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault
The pealing anthem swells the note of praise
