For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
nashenaas singing
salman alvi singing
آج کی رات ۔ حسین مُشیر علوی
۱
آج کی رات غمِ دوست میں شدّت ہے بہت
جِن سے اُلفت تھی بہت اُن سے شکائت ہے بہت
کتنی یادیں ہیں چلی آتی ہیں کمزور و نڈھال
غمِ جاناں کی کشاکش، غمِ دوراں کے سوال
۲
چاند کو چھونے کی خواہش، اُنہیں پانے کا خیال
بے شمار آرزویں، حسرت و ارمانِ وصال
عمر اپنی اِنہیں بیکار خیالوں میں کٹی
چھا گیا پھر اُنہیں خوابیدہ نِگاہوں کا فسوں
۳
ذہن میں کھِلنے لگے پھر تیری یادوں کے کنول
آج پھر ہونٹ تصوّر میں تیرے چوم لئے
جذبۂ شوق سے ہونے لگیں پلکیں بوجھل
ہائے ٹوٹی ہے کہاں جا کے خیالوں کی کمند
۴
ہائے رنگینیِ ایّام کہاں سے لاؤں
عیش و عشرت کا وہ اِک جام کہاں سے لاؤں
رِندیِ حافظ و خیّام کہاں سے لاؤں
وہ حسیں صبح حسیں شام کہاں سے لاؤں
۵
میرے آوارہ خیالو مجھے سو جانے دو
आज की रात – हुसैन मुशीर अलवी
१
आज की रात ग़म-ए दोस्त में शिद्दत है बहुत
जिन से उलफ़त थी बहुत उन से शिकायत है बहुत
कितनी यादें हैं चली आती हैं कमज़ोर ओ निढाल
ग़म-ए जनां की कशाकश, ग़म-ए दौरां के सवाल
२
चाँद को छूने की ख़्वाहिश, उन्हें पाने का ख़याल
बेशुमार आर्ज़ुएं, हसरत ओ अरमान-ए विसाल
उम्र अपनी इन्हिं बेकार ख़यालौं में कटि
छा गया फिर उन्हिं ख़्वाबीदा निगाहौं का फ़ुसूं
३
ज़हन में खिलने लगे फिर तेरी यादौं के कंवल
आज फिर होंट तसव्वुर में तेरे चूम लिए
जज़्बा-ए शौक़ से होने लगीं पल्कें बोझल
हाए टूटि है कहां जा के ख़यालौं की कमन्द
४
हाए रंगीनी-ए अय्याम कहां से लाऊं
ऐश ओ इश्रत का वो एक जाम कहां से लाऊं
रिन्दी-ए हाफ़िज़ ओ ख़य्याम कहां से लाऊं
वो हसीं सुबह हसीं शाम कहां से लाऊं
५
मेरे आवारा ख़यालो मुझे सो जाने दो
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. husain musheer alvi (????-2004), wrote this in 1964. I don’t know much more about him than that there is a long list of illustrious literary figures in his lineage. The nazm has been sung by several people but I found this one particularly haunting. sadiq fitrat habibi naashenas (1935- –) from kandahar, afGhanistan sings in faarsi, pashto and urdu.
1
aaj ki raat Gham1-e dost2 meN shiddat3 hai bahut
jin se ulfat4 thi bahut un se shikaayat5 hai bahut
kitni yaadeN haiN chali aati haiN kamzor o niDhaal6
Gham-e-janaaN7 ki kashaakash8, Gham-e-dauraaN9 ke savaal 1.sorrow-used in the sense of sorrow in missing 2.friend/beloved 3.intensity, excess 4.love 5.complaint 6.tired 7.sorrow/difficulty of self/life 8.struggle 9.problems of the world
There is much intensity in the sadness of missing the beloved tonight. The poet/lover has complaint against the one he has love so much. Memories crowd in, weak tired. The poet/lover also has to deal with the difficulties of living and with the problems of the world.
2
chaand ko chhoone ki Khwaahish, unheN paane ka Khayaal
beshumaar1 aarzueN2, hasrat3 o armaan4-e visaal5
umr apni inhiN bekaar KhayaalauN meN kaTi
chhaa gaya phir unhiN Khwaabiida6 nigaahauN ka fusuN7 1.innumerable 2.desires 3.longing 4.desire 5.union (with the beloved) 6.dreamy 7.magic, enchantment
Winning her is like the desire to touch the moon, unattainable. Innumerable desires and longing, especially the desire for union with the beloved assault him. His whole life spent in these useless thoughts under the spell of those dreamy eyes.
3
zahn1 meN khilne lage phir teri yaadauN ke kaNval
aaj phir hoNt tasavvur2 meN tere choom liye
jazba3-e shauq4 se hone lagiN palkeN bojhal
haa’e TooTi hai kahaaN jaa ke KhayaalauN ki kamand5 1.mind 2.imagination 3.passion 4.love 5.rope/noose thrown to climb walls/overcome obstacles
Memories float into the mind like lotus blooms. Again the poet/lover kisses her lips in his imagination. The passion of love sits heavy on the drooping eyelids. Alas, at what stage my rope has snapped preventing me from reaching her.
4
haa’e raNgini1-e ayyaam2 kahaaN se laauN
aish-o-ishrat3 ka vo ek jaam4 kahaaN se laauN
rindi5-e haafiz6 o Khayyaam7 kahaaN se laauN
vo hasiN8 subah hasiN shaam kahaaN se laauN 1.colours, happiness 2.days gone by 3.luxury and comfort 4.cup (of wine) 5.wine drinking style 6.poet of faarsi Ghazal 7.poet of faarsi rubaaii 8.beautiful
Alas, how can I bring back the happiness of days gone by. How can I bring the cup of wine that gives comfort. How can I bring back the style of hafiz and Khayyaam. How can I bring back those beautiful mornings and evenings.
5
mere aavaara1 Khayaalo mujhe so jaane do 1.wandering, incoherent
Oh, my incoherent thoughts, let me go to sleep.
husain musheer alvi (????-2004), wrote this in 1964. I don’t know much more about him than that there is a long list of illustrious literary figures in his lineage. The nazm has been sung by several people but I found this one particularly haunting. sadiq fitrat habibi naashenas (1935- –) from kandahar, afGhanistan sings in faarsi, pashto and urdu.
1
aaj ki raat Gham1-e dost2 meN shiddat3 hai bahut
jin se ulfat4 thi bahut un se shikaayat5 hai bahut
kitni yaadeN haiN chali aati haiN kamzor o niDhaal6
Gham-e-janaaN7 ki kashaakash8, Gham-e-dauraaN9 ke savaal
1.sorrow-used in the sense of sorrow in missing 2.friend/beloved 3.intensity, excess 4.love 5.complaint 6.fresh/green – as if from yesterday 7.sorrow/difficulty of self/life 8.struggle 9.problems of the world
There is much intensity in the sadness of missing the beloved tonight. The poet/lover has complaint against the one he has love so much. Memories crowd in, weak and tired. The poet/lover also has to deal with the difficulties of living and with the problems of the world.
2
chaand ko chhoone ki Khwaahish, unheN paane ka Khayaal
beshumaar1 aarzueN2, hasrat3 o armaan4-e visaal5
umr apni inhiN bekaar KhayaalauN meN kaTi
chhaa gaya phir unhiN Khwaabiida6 nigaahauN ka fusuN7
1.innumerable 2.desires 3.longing 4.desire 5.union (with the beloved) 6.dreamy 7.magic, enchantment
Winning her is like the desire to touch the moon, unattainable. Innumerable desires and longing, especially the desire for union with the beloved assault him. His whole life spent in these useless thoughts under the spell of those dreamy eyes.
3
zahn1 meN khilne lage phir teri yaadauN ke kaNval
aaj phir hoNt tasavvur2 meN tere choom liye
jazba3-e shauq4 se hone lagiN palkeN bojhal
haa’e TooTi hai kahaaN jaa ke KhayaalauN ki kamand5
1.mind 2.imagination 3.passion 4.love 5.rope/noose thrown to climb walls/overcome obstacles
Memories float into the mind like lotus blooms. Again the poet/lover kisses her lips in his imagination. The passion of love sits heavy on the drooping eyelids. Alas, at what stage my rope has snapped preventing me from reaching her.
4
haa’e raNgini1-e ayyaam2 kahaaN se laauN
aish-o-ishrat3 ka vo ek jaam4 kahaaN se laauN
rindi5-e haafiz6 o Khayyaam7 kahaaN se laauN
vo hasiN8 subah hasiN shaam kahaaN se laauN
1.colours, happiness 2.days gone by 3.luxury and comfort 4.cup (of wine) 5.wine drinking style 6.poet of faarsi Ghazal 7.poet of faarsi rubaaii 8.beautiful
Alas, how can I bring back the happiness of days gone by. How can I bring the cup of wine that gives comfort. How can I bring back the style of hafiz and Khayyaam. How can I bring back those beautiful mornings and evenings.
5
mere aavaara1 Khayaalo mujhe so jaane do
1.wandering, incoherent
Oh, my incoherent thoughts, let me go to sleep.
Key Search Words:
This poetry describes human feelings; it is factual and authentic. There is nothing ‘bad’ or ‘good’; it is not supposed to be a guide. If someone has never felt this way or has no empathy, may not enjoy or share in the best way.
Poetry is not meant to be a practical guide for living. Nicely phrased ghazals and beautifully sung by singers, like the two above, are meant to be enjoyed. Thanks for posting.
Ah, these regrets of old age!
No matter how nicely phrased
don’t do any good, do they?