For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
دُلہن کی طرح ۔ پروین شاکر
۱
رقص میں رات ہے بدن کی طرح
بارشوں کی ہوا میں بن کی طرح
۲
چاند بھی میری کروٹوں کا گواہ
میرے بستر کی ہر شکن کی طرح
۳
چاک ہے دامنِ قبائے بہار
میرے خوابوں کے پیرہن کی طرح
۴
زندگی تجھ سے دُور رہ کر میں
کاٹ لوں گی جلا وطن کی طرح
۵
مجھ کو تسلیم میرے چاند کہ میں
تیرے ہمراہ ہوں گہن کی طرح
۶
بارہا تیرا اِنتظار کیا
اپنے خوابوں میں اک دُلہن کی طرح
दुल्हन कि तरह – पर्वीन शाकर
१
रक़्स में रात है बदन कि तरह
बारिशौं की हवा में बन कि तरह
२
चांद भी मेरी कर्वटौं का गवाह
मेरे बिस्तर कि हर शिकन कि तरह
३
चाक है दामन-ए क़बा-ए बहार
मेरे ख़्वाबौं के पैरहन कि तरह
४
ज़िंदगी तुझ से दूर रह कर मैं
काट लूंगी जिला-वतन कि तरह
५
मुझ को तस्लीम मेरे चांद के मैं
तेरे हमराह हूं गहन कि तरह
६
बार-हा तेरा इन्तज़ार किया
अपने ख़्वाबौ में एक दुल्हन कि तरह
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. parveen shakir (1952-1994), English literature and linguistics, correspondent, educator, Pakistan Civil Service officer. Prolific writer bringing new thought and new forthright, feminist style to urdu shaa’eri. An explicit expression of love and especially of spurned by women was taboo until courageous poets like parveen shakir came forward. This is a poignant expression of her personal experience after a divorce that brought her sadness.
1
raqs1 meN raat hai badan2 ki tarah
baarishoN ki hava meN bun3 ki tarah 1.dance 2.body 3.forest
I suspect that she uses raqs/dance as not a joyous dance but a restless one. The night itself, the mood of the night sways in tumultous emotions like her body itself or like swaying trees during a windy rainstorm.
2
chaand bhi meri karvaToN1 ka gavaah2
mere bistar ki har shikan3 ki tarah 1.restless turns side to side especially in sleep 2.witness 3.wrinkles
Even the moon bears witness to my restlessly twists and turns just like the wrinkles of my bedsheet.
3
chaak1 hai daaman2-e qabaa3-e bahaar4
mere KhwaaboN5 ke pairahan6 ki tarah 1.torn, ripped 2.hem 3.robe 4.spring 5.dreams 6.clothes
Spring is a time of renewal and joy. The ripping of the hem of the robe of spring represents the tearing up of all dreams of renewal.
4
zindagi tujh se duur rah kar maiN
kaaT luuNgi jila-vatan1 ki tarah 1.exile
Separated and moved far from you, I will spend my life like an exile.
5
mujh ko tasliim1 mere chaand keh maiN
tere hamraah2 huN gahan3 ki tarah 1.accept, acknowledge 2.together, alongside 3.eclipse
She refers to her lover/husband as her moon. She acknowledges that if she is alongside him, it will be as if he is eclipsed. I am not sure if this is a subtle statement that she was the more illustrious of the two and her reputation/fame eclipsed him, perhaps causing a rift in relationship.
6
baar-haa1 tera intezaar2 kiya
apne KhwaaboN meN ek dulhan3 ki tarah 1.many times 2.waiting, anticipation 3.bride
Countless times have I waited for you, in my dreams like a coy bride.
parveen shakir (1952-1994), English literature and linguistics, correspondent, educator, Pakistan Civil Service officer. Prolific writer bringing new thought and new forthright, feminist style to urdu shaa’eri. An explicit expression of love and especially of spurned by women was taboo until courageous poets like parveen shakir came forward. This is a poignant expression of her personal experience after a divorce that brought her sadness.
1
raqs1 meN raat hai badan2 ki tarah
baarishoN ki hava meN bun3 ki tarah
1.dance 2.body 3.forest
I suspect that she uses raqs/dance as not a joyous dance but a restless one. The night itself, the mood of the night sways in tumultous emotions like her body itself or like swaying trees during a windy rainstorm.
2
chaand bhi meri karvaToN1 ka gavaah2
mere bistar ki har shikan3 ki tarah
1.restless turns side to side especially in sleep 2.witness 3.wrinkles
Even the moon bears witness to my restlessly twists and turns just like the wrinkles of my bedsheet.
3
chaak1 hai daaman2-e qabaa3-e bahaar4
mere KhwaaboN5 ke pairahan6 ki tarah
1.torn, ripped 2.hem 3.robe 4.spring 5.dreams 6.clothes
Spring is a time of renewal and joy. The ripping of the hem of the robe of spring represents the tearing up of all dreams of renewal.
4
zindagi tujh se duur rah kar maiN
kaaT luuNgi jila-vatan1 ki tarah
1.exile
Separated and moved far from you, I will spend my life like an exile.
5
mujh ko tasliim1 mere chaand keh maiN
tere hamraah2 huN gahan3 ki tarah
1.accept, acknowledge 2.together, alongside 3.eclipse
She refers to her lover/husband as her moon. She acknowledges that if she is alongside him, it will be as if he is eclipsed. I am not sure if this is a subtle statement that she was the more illustrious of the two and her reputation/fame eclipsed him, perhaps causing a rift in relationship.
6
baar-haa1 tera intezaar2 kiya
apne KhwaaboN meN ek dulhan3 ki tarah
1.many times 2.waiting, anticipation 3.bride
Countless times have I waited for you, in my dreams like a coy bride.
