leningrad ka gorastan – faiz

For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.

لننگراڈ کا گورستان ۔ فیض احمد فیض

 

سرد سلوں پر، زرد سلوں پر

تازہ گرم لہو کی صورت

گل دستوں کے چھینٹے ہیں

کتنے سب بے نام ہیں لیکن

ہر اِک پھول پہ نام لکھا ہے

غافل سونے والے کا

 

اپنے فرض سے فارغ ہو کر

اپنے لہو کی تان کے چادر

سارے بیٹے خواب میں ہیں

اپنے غموں کے ہار پرو کر

اماں اکیلی جاگ رہی ہے

लेनिनग्राड का गोरस्तान – फ़ैज़ अहमद फ़ैज़

 

सर्द सिलों पर, ज़र्द सिलों पर

ताज़ा गर्म लहू कि सूरत

गुल दस्तों के छींटे हैं

कितने सब बे नाम हैं लैकिन

हर एक फूल पे नाम लिखा है

ग़ाफ़िल सोने वाले का

 

अपने फ़र्ज़ से फ़ारिग़ होकर

अपने लहू कि तान के चादर

सारे बेटे ख़्वाब में हैं

अपने ग़मों के हार पिरो कर

अम्मां अकेली जाग रही है

leningrad ka gorastan – faiz ahmed faiz

Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. In WW II cemeteries and memorials of all parts of the ex-Soviet Union there is a poignant statue of a grieving mother. I suspect that faiz is referring to that statue when he writes of “amma akeli jaag rahi hai”.

sard1 siloN2 par, zard3 siloN par
taaza garm lahu4 ki surat5
gul dastoN ke chheeNTe6 haiN
kitne sab be naam7 haiN laikin
har ek phool pe naam likha hai
Ghaafil8 sone vaale ka
1.cold 2.tombstone 3.blood 4.similar to 5.drops, sprinkles 6.nameless, unknown 8.careless
On the cold, pallid lifeless tombstone, like fresh warm blood, bouquets of flowers are sprinkled. How many of them are nameless but still on every flower a name is inscribed, of the unknowing one who sleeps.

apne farz1 se faariGh2 hokar
apne lahu3 ki taan ke chaadar
saare beTe Khwaab4 meN haiN
apne GhamoN5 ke haar piro kar
ammaaN6 akeli jaag rahi hai
1.duty 2.free of, discharged 3.blood 4.dreams 5.sorrows 6.mother
Having fulfilled their duty, stretching their blood-stained sheet over their bodies, the sons are all fast asleep, dreaming. Having woven her garland of sorrow, the mother remains awake.

 

leningrad ka gorastan – faiz ahmed faiz

In WW II cemeteries and memorials of all parts of the ex-Soviet Union there is a poignant statue of a grieving mother.  I suspect that faiz is referring to that statue when he writes of “amma akeli jaag rahi hai”.

sard1 siloN2 par, zard3 siloN par
taaza garm lahu4 ki surat5
gul dastoN ke chheeNTe6 haiN
kitne sab be naam7 haiN laikin
har ek phool pe naam likha hai
Ghaafil8 sone vaale ka

1.cold 2.tombstone 3.blood 4.similar to 5.drops, sprinkles 6.nameless, unknown 8.careless

On the cold, pallid lifeless tombstone, like fresh warm blood, bouquets of flowers are sprinkled.  How many of them are nameless but still on every flower a name is inscribed, of the unknowing one who sleeps.

apne farz1 se faariGh2 hokar
apne lahu3 ki taan ke chaadar
saare beTe Khwaab4 meN haiN
apne GhamoN5 ke haar piro kar
ammaaN6 akeli jaag rahi hai

1.duty 2.free of, discharged 3.blood 4.dreams 5.sorrows 6.mother

Having fulfilled their duty, stretching their blood-stained sheet over their bodies, the sons are all fast asleep, dreaming.  Having woven her garland of sorrow, the mother remains awake.