For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
لب خاموش سے گواہی دے ۔ ناصرؔ کاظمی
۱
جُرمِ اُمّید کی سزا ہی دے
میرے حق میں بھی کچھ سنا ہی دے
۲
عشق میں ہم نہیں زیادہ طلب
جو ترا نازِ کم نگاہی دے
۳
تو نے تاروں سے شب کی مانگ بھری
مجھ کو اک اشکِ صبح گاہی دے
۴
تو نے بنجر زمیں کو پھول دیے
مجھ کو اک زخمِ دل کشا ہی دے
۵
بستیوں کو دیے ہیں تو نے چراغ
دشتِ دل کو بھی کوئی راہی دے
۶
عمر بھر کی نوا گری کا صلہ
اے خدا کوئی ہم نوا ہی دے
۷
زرد رُو ہیں ورق خیالوں کے
اے شبِ ہجر کچھ سیاہی دے
۸
گر مجال سخن نہیں ناصرؔ
لبِ خاموش سے گواہی دے
लब-ए ख़ामोश से गवाही दे – नासर काज़मी
१
जुर्म-ए उम्मीद की सज़ा ही दे
मेरे हक़ में भी कुछ सुना ही दे
२
इश्क़ में हम नहीं ज़ियादा तलब
जो तेरा नाज़-ए कम-निगाही दे
३
तू ने तारों से शब की माँग भरी
मुझ को एक अश्क-ए सुब्ह-गाही दे
४
तू ने बंजर ज़मीं को फूल दिये
मुझ को एक ज़ख़्म-ए दिल-कुशा ही दे
५
बस्तियों को दिये हैं तू ने चराग़
दश्त-ए दिल को भी कोई राही दे
६
उम्र भर की नवा-गरी का सिला
अए ख़ुदा कोई हम-नवा ही दे
७
ज़र्द-रू हैं वरक़ ख़यालों के
अए शब-ए हिज्र कुछ सियाही दे
८
गर मजाल-ए सुख़न नहीं नासर
लब-ए ख़ामोश से गवाही दे
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. naasir kazimi (1923-1972) migrated to pakistan. Several of his compostions are interpreted as mourning the loss of home, familiar surroundings and identity. This Ghazal is linked to others with a similar theme and radeef-refrain, ‘sukoot ko naGhma-saraaii de’.
1
jurm1-e ummiid2 ki sazaa3 hi de
mere haq4 meN bhi kuchh suna hi de 1.crime 2.hope 3.punishment 4.judgement, settlement
The poet/lover has committed the sin of hoping that the beloved would reciprocate his love. But she simply ignores him. He cries out, at least punish me for my sin. Pronounce some judgement about me – anything – don’t just ignore me. But could this also be a political statement – perhaps about military rule. He is hoping for democracy and is waiting to be punished for that hope.
2
ishq meN ham nahiN ziyaada1 talab2
jo tera naaz3-e kam-nigaahi4 de 1.much 2.demanding 3.coquetry, feigned indifference 4.short-sightedness
The poet/lover offers his love/devotion to the beloved. But she is indifferent. He considers that her short-sightedness, because she does not seem to value his steadfast fidelity. He says, in love, I don’t demand much. Give me whatever your short-sighted indifference wishes to give, but give something, don’t just ignore me. At a stretch this could also be political.
3
tu ne taaroN se shab1 ki maaNg2 bhari
mujh ko ek ashk3-e sub’h-gaahi4 de 1.night 2.parting of the hair 3.tear 4.related to dawn
This is addressed to god and several beautiful undertones are worth noting. The night is dark like the hair of the beloved. The parting of the hair is filled with glitter, like stars. Thus, god has provided stars for the night’s parted hair. The poet/lover is up all night, (the night of separation) mourning right up to the dawn. His tears also sparkle like stars. Thus, the juxtaposition of dawn tears and night stars is beautiful.
4
tu ne banjar1 zamiN ko phuul diye
mujh ko ek zaKhm2-e dil-kusha3 hi de 1.barren 2.wound, scar 3.heart-warming, pleasing
In urdu poetic convention, wounds of the heart are likened to flowers and they are valued. O god, you have given flowers to barren land. If not flowers, at least give me wounds of the heart that please.
5
bastiyoN1 ko diye haiN tu ne charaaGh
dasht2-e dil ko bhi koi raahi3 de 1.settlements 2.wilderness 3.traveler, guide
You have given lamps for settlements. These lamps are like guides showing the way. In the wilderness of his heart he needs similar guides so he can find his way to the goal.
6
umr bhar ki navaa-gari1 ka sila2
aye Khuda koi ham-navaa3 hi de 1.making sound, speaking, reciting poetry 2.compensation, reward 3.friend, same voice/thought
The poet has been composing/reciting poetry all his life. As a reward for this, he at least wants a helpful friend who speaks the same language, who thinks like him.
7
zard-ruu1 haiN varaq2 KhayaaloN3 ke
aye shab4-e hijr5 kuchh siyaahi6 de 1.glowing face 2.pages 3.imagination, thought 4.night 5.separation 6.darkness, ink
The poet has a rich imagination. He has many thoughts. So much so that the ‘pages of this thought’ shine bright i.e., they don’t have anything written on them. The night of separation is dark. He wants some of that darkness and use it as ink, to be able to write down his thoughts.
8
gar1 majaal2-e suKhan3 nahiN naasir4
lab5-e Khaamosh6 se gavaahi7 de 1.if 2.courage, daring 3.speaking 4.pen-name of the poet 5.lips 6.silent 7.bear witness
O naasir, if you don’t have the courage to speak out (against injustice and oppression), at least bear witness with silent lips.
naasir kazimi (1923-1972) migrated to pakistan. Several of his compostions are interpreted as mourning the loss of home, familiar surroundings and identity. This Ghazal is linked to others with a similar theme and radeef-refrain, ‘sukoot ko naGhma-saraaii de’.
1
jurm1-e ummiid2 ki sazaa3 hi de
mere haq4 meN bhi kuchh suna hi de
1.crime 2.hope 3.punishment 4.judgement, settlement
The poet/lover has committed the sin of hoping that the beloved would reciprocate his love. But she simply ignores him. He cries out, at least punish me for my sin. Pronounce some judgement about me – anything – don’t just ignore me. But could this also be a political statement – perhaps about military rule. He is hoping for democracy and is waiting to be punished for that hope.
2
ishq meN ham nahiN ziyaada1 talab2
jo tera naaz3-e kam-nigaahi4 de
1.much 2.demanding 3.coquetry, feigned indifference 4.short-sightedness
The poet/lover offers his love/devotion to the beloved. But she is indifferent. He considers that her short-sightedness, because she does not seem to value his steadfast fidelity. He says, in love, I don’t demand much. Give me whatever your short-sighted indifference wishes to give, but give something, don’t just ignore me. At a stretch this could also be political.
3
tu ne taaroN se shab1 ki maaNg2 bhari
mujh ko ek ashk3-e sub’h-gaahi4 de
1.night 2.parting of the hair 3.tear 4.related to dawn
This is addressed to god and several beautiful undertones are worth noting. The night is dark like the hair of the beloved. The parting of the hair is filled with glitter, like stars. Thus, god has provided stars for the night’s parted hair. The poet/lover is up all night, (the night of separation) mourning right up to the dawn. His tears also sparkle like stars. Thus, the juxtaposition of dawn tears and night stars is beautiful.
4
tu ne banjar1 zamiN ko phuul diye
mujh ko ek zaKhm2-e dil-kusha3 hi de
1.barren 2.wound, scar 3.heart-warming, pleasing
In urdu poetic convention, wounds of the heart are likened to flowers and they are valued. O god, you have given flowers to barren land. If not flowers, at least give me wounds of the heart that please.
5
bastiyoN1 ko diye haiN tu ne charaaGh
dasht2-e dil ko bhi koi raahi3 de
1.settlements 2.wilderness 3.traveler, guide
You have given lamps for settlements. These lamps are like guides showing the way. In the wilderness of his heart he needs similar guides so he can find his way to the goal.
6
umr bhar ki navaa-gari1 ka sila2
aye Khuda koi ham-navaa3 hi de
1.making sound, speaking, reciting poetry 2.compensation, reward 3.friend, same voice/thought
The poet has been composing/reciting poetry all his life. As a reward for this, he at least wants a helpful friend who speaks the same language, who thinks like him.
7
zard-ruu1 haiN varaq2 KhayaaloN3 ke
aye shab4-e hijr5 kuchh siyaahi6 de
1.glowing face 2.pages 3.imagination, thought 4.night 5.separation 6.darkness, ink
The poet has a rich imagination. He has many thoughts. So much so that the ‘pages of this thought’ shine bright i.e., they don’t have anything written on them. The night of separation is dark. He wants some of that darkness and use it as ink, to be able to write down his thoughts.
8
gar1 majaal2-e suKhan3 nahiN naasir4
lab5-e Khaamosh6 se gavaahi7 de
1.if 2.courage, daring 3.speaking 4.pen-name of the poet 5.lips 6.silent 7.bear witness
O naasir, if you don’t have the courage to speak out (against injustice and oppression), at least bear witness with silent lips.
