For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
ہم سرِ طُور ہیں ۔ علی سردار جعفری
۱
دل کو بے تاب رکھتی ہے اِک آرزُو
کم ہے یہ وسعتِ عالمِ رنگ و بُو
۲
لے چلی ہے کدھر پھر نئی جُستُجو
تا بہ حدّ نظر اُڑ کے جاتے ہیں ہم
وہ جو حائل تھے راہوں میں شمس و قمر
ہم سفر اُن کو اپنا بناتے ہیں ہم
۳
ہے زمیں پردۂ لالہ و نسترن
آسماں پردۂ کہکشاں ہے ابھی
رازِ فطرت ہوا لاکھ ہم پر عیاں
رازِ فطرت نہاں کا نہاں ہے ابھی
۴
جس کی صدیوں اُدھر ہم نے کی اِبتدا
ناتمام اپنی وہ داستاں ہے ابھی
منزلیں اُڑ گئیں بن کے گردِ سفر
رہگزاروں ہی میں کارواں ہے ابھی
۵
پی کے ناکامیوں کی شرابِ کہن
اپنا ذوقِ تجسُٓس جواں ہے ابھی
۶
ہاتھ کاٹے گئے جرأت شوق پر
خوں چکاں ہو کے وہ گلفشاں ہو گئے
حیرتوں نے لگائی جو مہرِ سُکُوت
لب خموشی میں جادو بیاں ہو گئے
۷
راستے میں جو کہسار آئے تو ہم
ایسے تڑپے کہ سیلِ رواں ہو گئے
ہیں ازل سے زمیں کے کُرے پر امیر
ہو کے محدود ہم بیکراں ہو گئے
۸
ذوقِ پرواز بھی دل کی اِک جست ہے
خاک سے زینتِ آسماں ہو گئے
۹
عقلِ چالاک نے دی ہے آ کر خبر
اِک شبستاں ہے ایوانِ مہتاب میں
منتظر ہیں نگارانِ آتش بدن
جگمگاتی فضاؤں کی محراب میں
۱۰
کتنے دل کش حسیں خواب بے دار ہیں
ماہ و مِرّیخ کی چشم بے خواب میں
کھینچ پھر زلفِ معشوقۂ نیلگوں
لے لے شعلے کو پھر دستِ بیتاب میں
۱۱
مژدہ ہو مہ جبینانِ افلاک کو
بزمِ گیتی کا صاحب نظر آ گیا
تہنیت حسن کو بے نقابی کی دو
دیدہ ور آ گیا پردہ در آ گیا
۱۲
آسماں سے گرا تھا جو کل ٹوٹ کر
وہ ستارہ بدوشِ قمر آ گیا
لے کے پیمانۂ دردِ دل ہاتھ میں
مَل کے چہرے پہ خون جگر آ گیا
بزمِ سیارگانِ فلک سیر میں
اک ہنر مند سیارہ گر آ گیا
۱۳
شوق کی حد مگر چاند تک تو نہیں
ہے ابھی رفعتِ آسماں اور بھی
ہے ثریا کے پیچھے ثریا رواں
کہکشاں سے پرے کہکشاں اور بھی
۱۴
جھانکتی ہیں فضاؤں کے پیچاک سے
رنگ اور نور کی وادیاں اور بھی
اور بھی منزلیں، اور بھی مشکلیں
ہیں ابھی عشق کے امتحاں اور بھی
۱۵
آج دستِ جنوں پر ہے شمعِ خِرد
دو جہاں جس کے شعلے سے معمور ہیں
لے کے آئیں پیامِ طلوعِ سحر
جتنے سورج خلاؤں میں مستور ہیں
۱۶
کہہ دو برقِ تجلّی سے ہو جلوہ گر
آج موسیٰ نہیں ہم سرِ طُور ہیں
हम सर-ए तूर हैं – अली सरदार जाफ़री
१
दिल को बे-ताब रखती है एक आरज़ू
कम है ये वुस’अत-ए आलम-ए रंग-ओ-बू
२
ले चली है किधर फिर नई जुस्तुजू
ता-ब हद्द-ए नज़र उढ के जाते हैं हम
वो जो हा’एल थे राहों में शम्स ओ क़मर
हम-सफ़र उन को अपना बनाते हैं हम
३
है ज़मीं पर्दा-ए लाला-ओ-नस्तरन
आसमां पर्दा-ए कहकशां है अभी
राज़-ए फ़ितरत हुआ लाख हम पर अयां
राज़-ए फ़ितरत नेहां का नेहां है अभी
४
जिस की सदियौं उधर हम ने की इब्तेदा
ना-तमाम अपनी वो दास्तां है अभी
मंज़िलें उढ गईं बन के गर्द-ए सफ़र
रहगुज़ारौं ही में कारवां है अभी
५
पी के नाकामियौं की शराब-ए कुहन
अपना ज़ौक़-ए तजस्सुस जवां है अभी
६
हाथ काटे गए जुर’अत-ए शौक़ पर
ख़ूं-चकां हो के वो गुल-फ़िशां हो गए
हैरतौं ने लगाई जो मोहर-ए सुकूत
लब ख़मोशी में जादू बयां हो गए
७
रास्ते में जो कोहसार आए तो हम
ऐसे तढपे के सैल-ए रवां हो गए
हैं अज़ल से ज़मीं के कुरे पर अमीर
हो के महदूद हम बे-करां हो गए
८
ज़ौक़-ए परवाज़ भी दिल की एक जस्त है
ख़ाक से ज़ीनत-ए आसमां हो गए
९
अक़्ल-ए चालाक ने दी है आ कर ख़बर
एक शबिस्तां है ऐवान-ए महताब में
मुंतज़िर हैं निगारान-ए आतिश-बदन
जगमगाती फ़ज़ाओं की मेहराब में
१०
कितने दिलकश हसीं ख़्वाब बेदार हैं
माह ओ मिर्रीख़ की चश्म-ए बे-ख़्वाब में
खींच फिर ज़ुल्फ़-ए माशूक़ा-ए नीलगूं
ले ले शोले को फिर दस्त-ए बेताब में
११
मुज़्श्दा हो मह-जबीनान-ए अफ़्लाक को
बज़्म-ए गेती का साहब-नज़र आ गया
तहनियत हुस्न को बे-नक़ाबी की दो
दीदा-वर आ गया पर्दा-दर आ गया
१२
आसमां से गिरा था जो कल टूट कर
वो सितारा ब-दोश-ए क़मर आ गया
ले के पैमाना-ए दर्द-ए दिल हाथ में
मल के चेहरे पे ख़ून-ए जिगर आ गया
बज़्म-ए सय्यारगान-ए फ़लक-सैर में
एक हुनर-मंद सैय्यारा-गर आ गया
१३
शौक़ की हद मगर चांद तक तो नहीं
है अभी रिफ़’अत-ए आसमां और भी
है सुरय्या के पीछे सुरय्या रवां
कहकशां से परे कहकशां और भी
१४
झांकती हैं फ़ज़ाऔं के पेचाक से
रंग और नूर की वादियां और भी
और भी मंज़िलें, और भी मुश्किलें
हैं अभी इश्क़ के इम्तेहां और भी
१५
आज दस्त-ए जुनूं पर है शम-ए ख़िरद
दो जहां जिस के शोले से मामूर हैं
ले के आएं पयाम-ए तुलू-ए सहर
जितने सूरज ख़लाऔं में मस्तूर हैं
१६
कह दो बर्क़-ए तजल्ली से हो जल्वा-गर
आज मूसा नहीं हम सर-ए तूर हैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. ali sardar jafri (1913-2000), balrampur, gonDa, U.P. Religious upbringing and education. MA luckhnow university. Started composing at 15. He soon turned to progressive, revolutionary nazm/Ghazal. Member Communist Party. Arrested in 1940. Plays, short stories, movies and TV serials gave him a career in mumbaii. Padma Shri in 1967. This nazm is dated April 13, 1961 and could well be a tribute to the first human space flight on April 12, 1961. Also see ‘spuTnik’ by sahir ludhianavi written in 1957.
1
dil ko be-taab1 rakhti hai ek aarzuu2
kam hai ye vus’at3-e aalam4-e raNg-o-buu5 1.restless 2.desire, longing 3.expanse 4.world 5.colour and fragrance, touch and feel
A longing keeps tugging at the heart-strings, keeps it restless; that the expanse of this world of colour and fragrance is not enough. Also see shahed shuru’aat …
vus’at falak ki taNgi-e parvaaz ban ga’ii
taaroN par’e makaan bana le vo nazar paida kar
2
le chali hai kidhar phir na’ii justujuu1
taa-ba2 hadd3-e nazar4 uR ke jaate haiN ham
vo jo haa’el5 the raahoN6 meN shams7 o qamar8
ham-safar9 un ko apnaa banaate haiN ham 1.search 2.as far as, up until 3.limits, boundaries 4.sight 5.obstructing 6.path 7.sun 8.moon 9.fellow traveler, companion
Where is my new search taking me. We are flying as far as the eye can see. We have made the suns and moons which were obstructions in the way, our fellow travellers now.
3
hai zamiN parda1-e laala2-o-nastaran3
aasmaaN parda1-e kahkashaaN4 hai abhi
raaz5-e fitrat6 huaa laakh ham par ayaaN7
raaz-e fitrat nehaaN8 kaa nehaaN hai abhi 1.screen, display 2.tulip 3.jasmine 4.constellations 5.secret, mystery 6.nature 7.revealed 8.hidden
The earth is a display of tulip and jasmine (symbolic of all growth on the earth); the sky reflects the full glory of constellations. The mysteries of the universe which were revealed to us again and again, still remain a mystery (we have learnt a lot and there is a lot more to learn).
4
jis ki sadiyoN1 udhar ham ne kii ibtedaa2
naa-tamaam3 apni vo daastaaN4 hai abhi
manzileN5 uR ga’iiN ban ke gard6-e safar7
rahguzaaroN8 hi meN kaarvaaN hai abhi 1.centuries 2.beginning 3.incompletee 4.story 5.stages along the journey 6.dust 7.journey 8.path
They story of our lives that we began hundreds of years ago is still incomplete. Many stages along our journey flew past like dust and our caravan is still on the path of progress.
5
pii ke naakaamiyoN1 ki sharaab-e kuhan2
apnaa zauq3-e tajassus4 javaaN5 hai abhi 1.failures 2.ancient, old 3.taste for 4.seeking, learning 5.youthful, vigorous
Drinking ancient wine of failure, our taste for learning acquires even more vigour.
6
haath kaaTe ga’e jur’at1-e shauq2 par
KhuuN-chakaaN3 ho ke vo gul-fishaaN4 ho ga’e
hairatoN5 ne lagaa’ii jo mohr6-e sukuut7
lab Khamoshi8 meN jaaduu-bayaaN9 ho ga’e 1.daring 2.desire 3.blood dripping 4.rose-scattering 5.amazement 6.stamp 7.silence 8.silence 9.enchanting speech
Our hands were chopped off for daring to follow the desire to learn. Blood dripping from our hands, fell to the ground and splashed around like scattering rose petals. Amazement stunned us, putting a stamp of silence on our lips. The silence of the lips spoke volumes in enchanting (soundless) speech.
7
raaste meN jo kohsaar1 aa’e to ham
aise taRpe2 keh sa’el3-e ravaaN4 ho ga’e
haiN azal5 se zamiiN ke kure6 par amiir7
ho ke mahduud8 ham be-karaaN9 ho ga’e 1.mountains 2.writhed in pain 3.flood 4.flowing 5.eternity (beginning) 6.ball, heap 7.leader, chief 8.confined 9.boundless, vast
When we encountered mountains on our way, we struggled so hard that we became a torrent cutting through them. Having been dominant on this heap of clay since eternity, we changed our confinement to a limitless domain.
8
zauq1-e parvaaz2 bhi dil ki ek jast3 hai
Khaak4 se ziinat5-e aasmaaN ho ga’e 1.taste, desire 2.flight 3.leap 4.dust, soil 5.adornment
The desire for flight is but a single leap of the heart. From the dust of the soil we became the adornment of the skies.
9
aql1-e chaalaak2 ne dii hai aa kar Khabar3
ek shabistaaN4 hai aivaan5-e mahtaab6 meN
muntazir7 haiN nigaaraan8-e aatish-badan9
jagmagaati10 fazaaoN11 ki mehraab12 meN 1.mind 2.clever 3.news, information 4.bedchambers 5.halls, palaces 6.moon 7.waiting, anticipating 8.beauties 9.fire-bodied 10.sparkling, shining 11.ambience 12.archways
The clever mind informs us that in the halls of the moon are private chambers were fire-bodied beauties await us under sparkling archways.
10
kitne dilkash1 hasiiN2 Khwaab bedaar3 haiN
maah4 o mirriiKh5 ki chashm6-e be-Khwaab7 meN
khiiNch phir zulf8-e maashuuqa9-e nil-guuN10
le le sho’le11 ko phir dast12-e betaab13 meN 1.pleasing 2.beautiful 3.awake 4.moon 5.mars 6.eye 7.wakeful, watchful 8.hair 9.beloved 10.blue coloured 11.flames 12.hands 13.restless, eager
Our pleasant and beautiful dreams play out under the watchful eyes of the moon and mars (symbolic of all celestial bodies). Pull yourselves up by the hair of the blue coloured beloved (the sky) and grab the opportunity (sho’la-flame) in your eager hands.
11
muzshda1 ho mah-jabinaan2-e aflaak3 ko
bazm4-e geti5 kaa saahab-nazar6 aa gayaa
tahniyat7 husn8 ko be-naqaabi9 ki do
diida-var10 aa gayaa parda-dar11 aa gayaa 1.good news, felicitations 2.moonlike foreheads, beauties 3.skies 4.gathering 5.world, earth 6.possessor of discerning sight 7.congratulations 8.beauty 9.unveiledness 10.one who can see/appreciate 11.one who tears veils (parda-dar as opposed to parda-daar)
Felicitations to the beauties of the skies, the possessor of discerning eye from the earth has arrived. Congratultions on the unveiling of their beauty, the veil-tearing diida-var arrived.
12
aasmaaN se giraa thaa jo kal TuuT kar
vo sitaara ba-dosh1-e qamar2 aa gayaa
le ke paimaana3-e dard4-e dil haath meN
mal5 ke chehre6 pe Khuun-e jigar7 aa gayaa
bazm8-e sayyaaragaan9-e falak-sair10 meN
ek hunar-mand11 sayyaara-gar12 aa gayaa 1.by the side of 2.moon 3.cup, goblet 4.pain, sorrow 5.rubbing 6.face 7.liver/heart 8.gathering 9.celestial bodies 10.roaming the skies 11.talented, skilled 12.navigator
Perhaps this is a reference to the legend that adam o havva – Adam and Eve, were banished from heaven and sent to earth. The star that broke and fell from the skies has arrived by the side of the moon, bearing in hand the goblet of his pain, rubbing his heart’s blood on his face (acknowledging that humans, even as they reach outer space, are still burdened with the trials of life on earth). In the gathering of celestial bodies roaming the skies, has arrived a skillful navigator.
13
shauq1 ki hadd2 magar chaaNd tak to nahiN
hai abhi rif’at3-e aasmaaN aur bhi
hai surayyaa4 ke pichhe surayyaa ravaaN5
kahkashaaN6 se par’e7 kahkashaaN aur bhi 1.desire 2.limit 3.heights 4. the Pleiades 5.flowing, moving 6.constellations 7.beyond
But the limit of desire is not just the moon. There are many more heights in the sky. There are other star clusters behind the Pleiades, there constellations beyond constellations. Reminds me of mohammed iqbal’s …
sitaaroN se aage jahaaN aur bhi haiN
abhi ishq ke imtehaaN aur bhi haiN
14
jhaaNkti1 haiN fazaaoN2 ke pechaak3 se
raNg aur nuur4 ki vaadiyaaN5 aur bhi
aur bhi manzileN6, aur bhi mushkileN7
haiN abhi ishq ke imtehaaN8 aur bhi 1.peeping through 2.air, ambience, surroundings 3.curly hair 4.light 5.valleys 6.destinations, goals 7.difficulties, challenges 8.trials
There are many more valleys of light and colour peeping through the curly hair of the sky. There are many more destinations, many more challenges. Our desire (to explore) is to be tested some more.
15
aaj dast1-e junuuN2 par hai sham’3-e Khirad4
do jahaaN5 jis ke sho’le6 se maa’muur7 haiN
le ke aa’eN payaam8-e tuluu9-e sahar9
jitne suuraj KhalaaoN10 meN mastuur11 haiN 1.hand 2.passion, madness 3.lamp 4.wisdom, knowledge 5.both worlds 6.flame 7.constituted, made of 8.message 9.rising, emerging 9.dawn 10.empty space 11.hidden
Today, the hand of passion holds the light of wisdom, the light that fills both worlds. Let all the suns hidden in empty space bring news of the emergence of a new dawn.
16
kah do barq1-e tajalli2 se ho jalva-gar3
aaj muusaa4 nahiN ham sar5-e tuur6 haiN 1.lightning 2.brilliance 3.manifest, visible 4.Moses 5.head of, peak of 6.mount tuur
This has reference to the legend that muusaa/Moses went up mount tuur asking to see some evidence of god. He was told that he would not be able to bear the sight, but insisted. There was a flash of lightning and muusaa fainted. The poet seems to declare that human beings are now ready to unveil the mystery of divinity. Thus, someone tell the lightning bolt of brilliance to reveal itself. Now it is not muusaa on mount tuur but modern human. Reminds me of Ghalib …
girni thi ham pe barq-e tajalli na tuur par
dete haiN baada zarf-e qadah-Khwaar dekh kar
ali sardar jafri (1913-2000), balrampur, gonDa, U.P. Religious upbringing and education. MA luckhnow university. Started composing at 15. He soon turned to progressive, revolutionary nazm/Ghazal. Member Communist Party. Arrested in 1940. Plays, short stories, movies and TV serials gave him a career in mumbaii. Padma Shri in 1967. This nazm is dated April 13, 1961 and could well be a tribute to the first human space flight on April 12, 1961. Also see ‘spuTnik’ by sahir ludhianavi written in 1957.
1
dil ko be-taab1 rakhti hai ek aarzuu2
kam hai ye vus’at3-e aalam4-e raNg-o-buu5
1.restless 2.desire, longing 3.expanse 4.world 5.colour and fragrance, touch and feel
A longing keeps tugging at the heart-strings, keeps it restless; that the expanse of this world of colour and fragrance is not enough. Also see shahed shuru’aat …
vus’at falak ki taNgi-e parvaaz ban ga’ii
taaroN par’e makaan bana le vo nazar paida kar
2
le chali hai kidhar phir na’ii justujuu1
taa-ba2 hadd3-e nazar4 uR ke jaate haiN ham
vo jo haa’el5 the raahoN6 meN shams7 o qamar8
ham-safar9 un ko apnaa banaate haiN ham
1.search 2.as far as, up until 3.limits, boundaries 4.sight 5.obstructing 6.path 7.sun 8.moon 9.fellow traveler, companion
Where is my new search taking me. We are flying as far as the eye can see. We have made the suns and moons which were obstructions in the way, our fellow travellers now.
3
hai zamiN parda1-e laala2-o-nastaran3
aasmaaN parda1-e kahkashaaN4 hai abhi
raaz5-e fitrat6 huaa laakh ham par ayaaN7
raaz-e fitrat nehaaN8 kaa nehaaN hai abhi
1.screen, display 2.tulip 3.jasmine 4.constellations 5.secret, mystery 6.nature 7.revealed 8.hidden
The earth is a display of tulip and jasmine (symbolic of all growth on the earth); the sky reflects the full glory of constellations. The mysteries of the universe which were revealed to us again and again, still remain a mystery (we have learnt a lot and there is a lot more to learn).
4
jis ki sadiyoN1 udhar ham ne kii ibtedaa2
naa-tamaam3 apni vo daastaaN4 hai abhi
manzileN5 uR ga’iiN ban ke gard6-e safar7
rahguzaaroN8 hi meN kaarvaaN hai abhi
1.centuries 2.beginning 3.incompletee 4.story 5.stages along the journey 6.dust 7.journey 8.path
They story of our lives that we began hundreds of years ago is still incomplete. Many stages along our journey flew past like dust and our caravan is still on the path of progress.
5
pii ke naakaamiyoN1 ki sharaab-e kuhan2
apnaa zauq3-e tajassus4 javaaN5 hai abhi
1.failures 2.ancient, old 3.taste for 4.seeking, learning 5.youthful, vigorous
Drinking ancient wine of failure, our taste for learning acquires even more vigour.
6
haath kaaTe ga’e jur’at1-e shauq2 par
KhuuN-chakaaN3 ho ke vo gul-fishaaN4 ho ga’e
hairatoN5 ne lagaa’ii jo mohr6-e sukuut7
lab Khamoshi8 meN jaaduu-bayaaN9 ho ga’e
1.daring 2.desire 3.blood dripping 4.rose-scattering 5.amazement 6.stamp 7.silence 8.silence 9.enchanting speech
Our hands were chopped off for daring to follow the desire to learn. Blood dripping from our hands, fell to the ground and splashed around like scattering rose petals. Amazement stunned us, putting a stamp of silence on our lips. The silence of the lips spoke volumes in enchanting (soundless) speech.
7
raaste meN jo kohsaar1 aa’e to ham
aise taRpe2 keh sa’el3-e ravaaN4 ho ga’e
haiN azal5 se zamiiN ke kure6 par amiir7
ho ke mahduud8 ham be-karaaN9 ho ga’e
1.mountains 2.writhed in pain 3.flood 4.flowing 5.eternity (beginning) 6.ball, heap 7.leader, chief 8.confined 9.boundless, vast
When we encountered mountains on our way, we struggled so hard that we became a torrent cutting through them. Having been dominant on this heap of clay since eternity, we changed our confinement to a limitless domain.
8
zauq1-e parvaaz2 bhi dil ki ek jast3 hai
Khaak4 se ziinat5-e aasmaaN ho ga’e
1.taste, desire 2.flight 3.leap 4.dust, soil 5.adornment
The desire for flight is but a single leap of the heart. From the dust of the soil we became the adornment of the skies.
9
aql1-e chaalaak2 ne dii hai aa kar Khabar3
ek shabistaaN4 hai aivaan5-e mahtaab6 meN
muntazir7 haiN nigaaraan8-e aatish-badan9
jagmagaati10 fazaaoN11 ki mehraab12 meN
1.mind 2.clever 3.news, information 4.bedchambers 5.halls, palaces 6.moon 7.waiting, anticipating 8.beauties 9.fire-bodied 10.sparkling, shining 11.ambience 12.archways
The clever mind informs us that in the halls of the moon are private chambers were fire-bodied beauties await us under sparkling archways.
10
kitne dilkash1 hasiiN2 Khwaab bedaar3 haiN
maah4 o mirriiKh5 ki chashm6-e be-Khwaab7 meN
khiiNch phir zulf8-e maashuuqa9-e nil-guuN10
le le sho’le11 ko phir dast12-e betaab13 meN
1.pleasing 2.beautiful 3.awake 4.moon 5.mars 6.eye 7.wakeful, watchful 8.hair 9.beloved 10.blue coloured 11.flames 12.hands 13.restless, eager
Our pleasant and beautiful dreams play out under the watchful eyes of the moon and mars (symbolic of all celestial bodies). Pull yourselves up by the hair of the blue coloured beloved (the sky) and grab the opportunity (sho’la-flame) in your eager hands.
11
muzshda1 ho mah-jabinaan2-e aflaak3 ko
bazm4-e geti5 kaa saahab-nazar6 aa gayaa
tahniyat7 husn8 ko be-naqaabi9 ki do
diida-var10 aa gayaa parda-dar11 aa gayaa
1.good news, felicitations 2.moonlike foreheads, beauties 3.skies 4.gathering 5.world, earth 6.possessor of discerning sight 7.congratulations 8.beauty 9.unveiledness 10.one who can see/appreciate 11.one who tears veils (parda-dar as opposed to parda-daar)
Felicitations to the beauties of the skies, the possessor of discerning eye from the earth has arrived. Congratultions on the unveiling of their beauty, the veil-tearing diida-var arrived.
12
aasmaaN se giraa thaa jo kal TuuT kar
vo sitaara ba-dosh1-e qamar2 aa gayaa
le ke paimaana3-e dard4-e dil haath meN
mal5 ke chehre6 pe Khuun-e jigar7 aa gayaa
bazm8-e sayyaaragaan9-e falak-sair10 meN
ek hunar-mand11 sayyaara-gar12 aa gayaa
1.by the side of 2.moon 3.cup, goblet 4.pain, sorrow 5.rubbing 6.face 7.liver/heart 8.gathering 9.celestial bodies 10.roaming the skies 11.talented, skilled 12.navigator
Perhaps this is a reference to the legend that adam o havva – Adam and Eve, were banished from heaven and sent to earth. The star that broke and fell from the skies has arrived by the side of the moon, bearing in hand the goblet of his pain, rubbing his heart’s blood on his face (acknowledging that humans, even as they reach outer space, are still burdened with the trials of life on earth). In the gathering of celestial bodies roaming the skies, has arrived a skillful navigator.
13
shauq1 ki hadd2 magar chaaNd tak to nahiN
hai abhi rif’at3-e aasmaaN aur bhi
hai surayyaa4 ke pichhe surayyaa ravaaN5
kahkashaaN6 se par’e7 kahkashaaN aur bhi
1.desire 2.limit 3.heights 4. the Pleiades 5.flowing, moving 6.constellations 7.beyond
But the limit of desire is not just the moon. There are many more heights in the sky. There are other star clusters behind the Pleiades, there constellations beyond constellations. Reminds me of mohammed iqbal’s …
sitaaroN se aage jahaaN aur bhi haiN
abhi ishq ke imtehaaN aur bhi haiN
14
jhaaNkti1 haiN fazaaoN2 ke pechaak3 se
raNg aur nuur4 ki vaadiyaaN5 aur bhi
aur bhi manzileN6, aur bhi mushkileN7
haiN abhi ishq ke imtehaaN8 aur bhi
1.peeping through 2.air, ambience, surroundings 3.curly hair 4.light 5.valleys 6.destinations, goals 7.difficulties, challenges 8.trials
There are many more valleys of light and colour peeping through the curly hair of the sky. There are many more destinations, many more challenges. Our desire (to explore) is to be tested some more.
15
aaj dast1-e junuuN2 par hai sham’3-e Khirad4
do jahaaN5 jis ke sho’le6 se maa’muur7 haiN
le ke aa’eN payaam8-e tuluu9-e sahar9
jitne suuraj KhalaaoN10 meN mastuur11 haiN
1.hand 2.passion, madness 3.lamp 4.wisdom, knowledge 5.both worlds 6.flame 7.constituted, made of 8.message 9.rising, emerging 9.dawn 10.empty space 11.hidden
Today, the hand of passion holds the light of wisdom, the light that fills both worlds. Let all the suns hidden in empty space bring news of the emergence of a new dawn.
16
kah do barq1-e tajalli2 se ho jalva-gar3
aaj muusaa4 nahiN ham sar5-e tuur6 haiN
1.lightning 2.brilliance 3.manifest, visible 4.Moses 5.head of, peak of 6.mount tuur
This has reference to the legend that muusaa/Moses went up mount tuur asking to see some evidence of god. He was told that he would not be able to bear the sight, but insisted. There was a flash of lightning and muusaa fainted. The poet seems to declare that human beings are now ready to unveil the mystery of divinity. Thus, someone tell the lightning bolt of brilliance to reveal itself. Now it is not muusaa on mount tuur but modern human. Reminds me of Ghalib …
girni thi ham pe barq-e tajalli na tuur par
dete haiN baada zarf-e qadah-Khwaar dekh kar
