Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. aalamtaab tishna (1935-1991), born in meraTh, India, migrated to pakistan in 1959 and describes it as “banbaas” given to him “kaikaii of the times”. But his “banbaas” separated him from his “sita-kavita” and lasted for 12 years. He began composing and reciting again with his first collection published in 1978.
1
meri tarah sar¹-e mahfil² udaas³ tha vo bhi
kisi ne haal⁴ jo poochha to ro diya vo bhi    1.head, centre, middle 2.gathering 3.sad 4.condition
Just like me, he too was sad, although he was in the middle/centre of the gathering. Presumably the “he” is the rival, and they are both in the crowd around the beloved and are both sorrowful. Someone asked after his health and well being and he broke down in tears.
2
havaa-e shaam ki jis se shikaayeteN¹ kii thiiN
charaaGh²-e baam³-e tamanna⁴ bujha gaya vo bhi    1.complaints 2.lamp, candle 3.roof-top, apex 4.desire, longing
In urdu poetic tradition the wind/storm is the enemy of the lamp and tries to blow it out, where the wind represents fate or cruelty of the times and the lamp represents the desires of the poet/lover. The poet/lover complains about the wind to a ‘friend’. He himself extinguishes the lamp of his desire (even as his passion is at its peak) as he leaves. In this case the ‘friend’ could be a rival who lays claim to the beloved or the ‘beloved’ herself who simply turns him down and leaves.
3
jo de gaya tha Khabar¹ dushmanoN ke shab-KhooN² ki
mere makaaN pe nishaani laga gaya vo bhi    1.news, notice 2.surprise night-time attack
He had come to convey news/notice of an impending night-time surprise attack by the enemy. But he himself put a mark on my house/door as he left. The mark is meant to flag the house as ripe for attack and the poet talks about the deception of his friend.
4
Khayaal-e taa’na¹-e yaaraaN² na Khauf³-e rusvaaii⁴
har ek safar⁵ meN mere saath saath tha vo bhi     1.sarcasm, criticism 2.friends 3.fear 4.shame, loss of reputation 5.journey
Here the poet is talking about the exact opposite sentiment i.e. the steadfast companionship and support of his friend. Not afraid of the criticism of friends or of loss of reputation, he stayed with me through every journey/trial.
5
naya naya tha hameN bhi junooN¹ parastish² ka
bana hua tha sar³-e anjuman⁴ Khuda vo bhi     1.passion, madness 2.devotion, worship 3.head, centre 4.gathering
Khuda is used here to mean the focus of attention. The poet/lover had also just fallen in love. His passion to worship the beloved was new and strong, and the beloved too, was enjoying being the centre of attention in the large gathering of all her lovers.
6
karega kaun ab aashob¹-e zaat² ka maatam³
ek aadmi tha jo mujh meN so mar gaya vo bhi    1.terror, passionate restlessness 2.person, self 3.mourning
Who will now mourn my passionate restlessness. The human (human feeling) that was in me is now dead i.e. all my fine feelings are dead, I am numb and can no longer feel the pain of my passion. Who will now mourn this loss.
7
hameN bhi ek hi mosam¹ ka tha dimaaGh² kahaaN
har ek ahd³-e vafa⁴ se mukar⁵ gaya vo bhi    1.season, conditions 2.mind, thought, desire 3.promise 4.fidelity 5.deny, refuse
I never hand it mind just one/uniform condition of fidelity. She could have shown favours sometimes and sometimes not. But she refused/denied every promise of fidelity that she had made.
8
rifaaqatoN¹ ka sila² ye bhi kam nahiN tishna³
hamaara naam jab aaya to haNs paRa vo bhi     1.friendship, love 2.compensation, reward 3.thirsty, pen-name of the poet
It is not too bad that I get at least this much compensation/reward for my love/friendship/fidelity that whenever my name is mentioned to her, she smiles.