For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
abida parveen
faiz ahmed faiz
موضوُعِ سخن – فیض احمد فیض
گُل ہوئی جاتی ہے افسردہ سلگتی ہوئی شام
دُھل کے نکلے گی ابھی چشمہِ مہتاب سے رات
اور ۔ مشتاق نگاہوں کی سُنی جائیگی
اور ۔ اُن ہاتھوں سے مس ہونگے یہ ترسے ہوے ہاتھ
اُنکاآنچل ہے کہ رُخسار، کہ پیراہن ہے
کچھ تو ہے جس سے ہوی جاتی ہے چلمن رنگیں
جانے اُس زلف کی موہوُم گھنی چھاوٗں میں
ٹمٹماتاہے وہ آویزہ ابھی تک کہ نہیں
آج پھر حسنِ دلارا کی وہی دھج ہوگی
وہی خوابیدہ سی آ نکھیں وہی کاجل کی لکیر
رنگِ رخسار پہ ہلکا سا وہ غازے کا غبار
صندلی ہاتھ پہ دُھندلی سی حِنا کی تحریر
اپنے افکار کی اشعار کی دُنیا ہے یہی
جانِ مضموں ہے یہی، شاہدِ معنیٰ ہے یہی
آج تک سرخ و سیہ صد یوں کے سائے کے تلے
آدم و حوّا کی اولاد پہ کیا گذری ہے
موت اور زیست کی روزانہ صف آرائی میں
ہم پہ کیاگزریگی، اجداد پہ کیا گزری ہے
اِن دمکتے ہوے شہروں کی فراواں مخلوق
کیوں فقط مرنے کی حسرت میں جیا کرتی ہے
یہ حسیں کھیت پھٹا پڑ تاہے جوبن جن کا
کس لئے اِن میں فقت بھوک اُگا کرتی ہے
یہ ہر اک سِمت پرُ اسرار کڑی دیواریں
جل بجھے جن میں ہزاروں کی جوانی کے چراغ
یہ ہر اک گام پہ اُن خوابوں کی مقتل گاہیں
جن کے پرتو سے چراغاں ہیں ہزاروں کے دِماغ
یہ بھی ہیں، ایسے کئی اور بھی مضموں ہونگے
لیکن اُس شوُخ کے آہستہ سے کھلُتے ہوے ہونٹ
ہائے اُس جسم کے کمبخت دِل آویز خطوط
آپ ہی کہئے کہیں ایسے بھی افسوں ہونگے
اپنا موضوعِ سخنُ اِن کے سوا اور نہیں
طبعِ شاعر کا وطن اِن کے سوا اور نہیں
मौज़ू ए सुख़न – फ़ैज़ अहमद फ़ैज़
गुल हुई जाती है अफ़सुर्दा सुलगती हुई शाम
धुल के निकलेगी अभी चश्मा ए महताब से रात
और, मुश्ताक़ निगाहों कि सुनी जाएगी
और, उन हाथों से मस होंगे ये तरसे हुए हाथ
उनका आँचल है, के रुख़सार, के पैराहन है
कुछ तो है जिस से हुई जाती है चिलमन रंगीं
जाने इस ज़ुल्फ़ कि मौहूम घनी छाओं में
टिमटिमाता है वो आवीज़ा अभी तक के नहीं
आज फिर हुस्न ए दिलारा कि वही धज होगी
वही ख़्वाबीदा सी आँखें वही काजल कि लकीर
रंग ए रुख़सार पे हल्का सा वो ग़ाज़े का ग़ुबार
संदली हाथ पे धुंदली सी हिना कि तहरीर
अपने अफ़कार कि अश’आर कि दुनिया है यही
जान-ए मज़मूं है यही, शाहेद-ए म’आना है यही
आज तक सुर्ख़ ओ सियह सदियों के साए के तले
आदम ओ हव्वा कि औलाद पे क्या गुज़री है
मौत और ज़ीस्त कि रोज़ाना सफ़ आराई में
हम पे क्या गुज़रेगी, अज्दाद पे क्या गुज़री है
इन दमकते हुए शहरों कि फ़रावां मख़लूक़
क्यूँ फ़क़त मरने कि हसरत में जिया करती है
ये हसीं खेत, फटा पड़ता है जोबन जिन का
किस लिए इन में फ़क़त भूक उगा करती है
ये हर एक सिम्त पुर असरार कड़ी दीवारें
जल बुझे जिन में हज़ारों कि जवानी के चिराग़
ये हर एक गाम पे उन ख़्वाबों कि मक़तल गाहें
जिन के परतौ से चिराग़ां हैं हज़ारों के दिमाग़
ये भी हैं, ऐसे कई और भी मज़मूं होंगे
लैकिन उस शूख़ के आहिस्ता से खुलते हुए होंट
हाए उस जिस्म के कम्बख़त दिलावेज़ ख़तूत
आप ही कहिये कहीं ऐसे भी अफ़सून होंगे
अपना मौज़ू ए सुख़न इन के सिवा और नहीं
तब’अ शा’एर का वतन इन के सिवा और नहीं
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. faiz ahmed faiz (1911-1984) a poet of romance, resistance, labour leader, journalist, political activist, Lenin Peace Prize awardee writes with great finesse and delicacy using the beloved as a metaphor for the homeland and/or the socialist revolution. This is a beautiful and fulsome ode to feminine beauty. There had been a vigorous debate among those associated with the Progressive Writers’ Association on what the theme of writing/poetry should be. faiz obviously experienced different moods, different inspirations at different times. On the one hand he wrote “mujh se pahli si mohaabat” and “bol” and on the other this highly romantic mood, without giving up on the real humanist theme. Other poets too, went through these swings. faiz and maKhdoom too show these, not to be characterized as “phases” in their careers but just a playful change of theme overlayed on the much stronger current of writing about human rights and wrongs.
gul hui jaati1 hai afsurda2 sulagti3 hui shaam
dhul ke niklegi abhi chashma4 e mahtab5 se raat
aur, mushtaaq6 nigahoN ki suni jaaegi
aur, un haathoN se mas7 hoNge ye tarse hue8 haath1.getting extinguished 2.wilted 3.glowing (red) 4.spring, river, source 5.brillitant (full) moon 6.eager 7.rub against 8.long thirsting
Slowly fades this eve of smouldering sadness, washed and bathed in the light of the moon the night will emerge. Now the plea of these yearning eyes will be heard. Now my searching fingers will meet, touch, feel hers.
unka aaNchal9 hai, ke rukhsaar10, ke pairahan11 hai
kuchh to hai jis se hui jaati hai chilman rangeeN
jaane is zulf12 ki mauhoom13 ghani chhaaon meN
TimTimaata hai vo aaveeza14 abhi tak ke nahiN9.shawl, apron 10.cheek, face 11.robe, cloak 12.curls, tresses 13.enchanting, illusionary 14.trinket, bauble (a self depracating reference to the poet/lover’s gift to the beloved)
The poet/lover wonders, is it the brocade of her veil, her shining face or her colorful robe, surely there is something that makes the curtain glow. I wonder if in those thick, enchanting tresses, the amulet (that I gave her) still twinkles.
aaj phir husn e dilaara15 ki vahi dhaj16 hogi
vahi Khwabeeda17 si aankheN vahi kaajal ki lakeer
raNg e ruKhsaar10 pe halka sa vo Ghaaze18 ka Ghubaar19
sandali haath pe dhundli si hina ki tahreer20 15.beauty of the beloved 16.glorious display 17.dream 18.rouge 19.mist, powder 20.line
Today too, the beauty of the beloved is displayed in the same grandeur. Her dream-filled, kohl-lined eyes, a faint dusting of rouge on her glowing cheeks and on her fair palms, delicate lines of henna.
apne afkaar21 ki asha’ar ki duniya hai yahi
jaan e mazmuN22 hai yahi, shahid e maa’na23 hai yahi
aaj tak surKh o siyah24 sadiyon25 ke saaye ke tale`
aadam o havva ki aulaad26 pe kya guzri hai
maut aur zeest27 ki rozana saf aaraai28 meN
ham pe kya guzregi, ajdaad29 pe kya guzri hai21.thoughts, musings, dreams 22.life of the theme 23.beauty of meaning 24.red and black, happy and sad 25.centuries 26.progeny of Adam and Eve, humanity 27.death and life 28.daily battle (saf araaii – forming battle lines) 29.forebears
This alone is the world of my dreams and my verse. This alone is the lifeblood of my themes, the beauty of the (hidden) meaning of my outpourings. Through these ages, dark and bloodied as they have been, how has the offspring of Adam and Eve fared. In the life and death struggle from day to day, how will humanity fare, how did our forebears endure it all.
in damakte30 hue shahroN ki faravaaN31 maKhlooq32
kyuN faqat33 marne ki hasrat34 meN jiya karti hai
ye haseeN khet, phaTa paRta hai joban35 jin ka
kis liye in meN faqat33 bhook uga karti hai30.shining 31.numerous 32.creation, creatures, people 33.only 34.longing, desire 35.youthful bloom, breasts
The multitude in these shining cities, why does it have to struggle so much merely to survive. These rich fields, bursting with bounty, why is hunger their only harvest.
ye har ek simt36 pur asraar37 kaRi38 deevareN
jal bujhe jin meN hazaaroN ki javaani ke chiraGh
ye har ek gaam39 pe un KhwaaboN ki maqtal gaaheN40
jin ke partau41 se chiraGhaaN42 haiN hazaroN ke dimaaGh36.direction 37.mysterious, secretive 38.hard, forbidding 39.pathways 40.slaughterhouses 41.reflection, inspiration 42.shining
In every direction secretive, forbidding walls where the light of youthful ambition is snuffed out. At every step, dreams suffocated, dreams that have lit up thousands of minds.
ye bhi haiN, aise kaii aur bhi mazmooN43 hoNge
laikin us shooKh44 ke aahesta se khulte hue honT
haae us jism ke kambaKht45 dilaavez46 Khatoot47
aap hi kahiye kaheeN aise bhi afsooN48 hoNge
apna mauzoo e suKhan49 in ke siva50 aur nahiN
taba’a51 shaa’er ka vatan52 in ke siva aur nahiN43.themes, subjects 44.mischievous 45.wretched 46.heart pleasing 47.lines, form, shape 48.magic, enchantment 49.theme of poetry 50.except for 51.nature, instinct 52.home
These and many more themes there are, but, ah those playful, teasing, parting lips and the comely curves of that ravishing body. Can there be anything more enchanting than this! The theme of my verse cannot be anything but this. The instinct of the poet cannot be anything but this.
faiz ahmed faiz (1911-1984) a poet of romance, resistance, labour leader, journalist, political activist, Lenin Peace Prize awardee writes with great finesse and delicacy using the beloved as a metaphor for the homeland and/or the socialist revolution. This is a beautiful and fulsome ode to feminine beauty. There had been a vigorous debate among those associated with the Progressive Writers’ Association on what the theme of writing/poetry should be. faiz obviously experienced different moods, different inspirations at different times. On the one hand he wrote “mujh se pahli si mohaabat” and “bol” and on the other this highly romantic mood, without giving up on the real humanist theme. Other poets too, went through these swings. faiz and maKhdoom too show these, not to be characterized as “phases” in their careers but just a playful change of theme overlayed on the much stronger current of writing about human rights and wrongs.
gul hui jaati1 hai afsurda2 sulagti3 hui shaam
dhul ke niklegi abhi chashma4 e mahtab5 se raat
aur, mushtaaq6 nigahoN ki suni jaaegi
aur, un haathoN se mas7 hoNge ye tarse hue8 haath
1.getting extinguished 2.wilted 3.glowing (red) 4.spring, river, source 5.brillitant (full) moon 6.eager 7.rub against 8.long thirsting
Slowly fades this eve of smouldering sadness, washed and bathed in the light of the moon the night will emerge. Now the plea of these yearning eyes will be heard. Now my searching fingers will meet, touch, feel hers.
unka aaNchal9 hai, ke rukhsaar10, ke pairahan11 hai
kuchh to hai jis se hui jaati hai chilman rangeeN
jaane is zulf12 ki mauhoom13 ghani chhaaon meN
TimTimaata hai vo aaveeza14 abhi tak ke nahiN
9.shawl, apron 10.cheek, face 11.robe, cloak 12.curls, tresses 13.enchanting, illusionary 14.trinket, bauble (a self depracating reference to the poet/lover’s gift to the beloved)
The poet/lover wonders, is it the brocade of her veil, her shining face or her colorful robe, surely there is something that makes the curtain glow. I wonder if in those thick, enchanting tresses, the amulet (that I gave her) still twinkles.
aaj phir husn e dilaara15 ki vahi dhaj16 hogi
vahi Khwabeeda17 si aankheN vahi kaajal ki lakeer
raNg e ruKhsaar10 pe halka sa vo Ghaaze18 ka Ghubaar19
sandali haath pe dhundli si hina ki tahreer20
15.beauty of the beloved 16.glorious display 17.dream 18.rouge 19.mist, powder 20.line
Today too, the beauty of the beloved is displayed in the same grandeur. Her dream-filled, kohl-lined eyes, a faint dusting of rouge on her glowing cheeks and on her fair palms, delicate lines of henna.
apne afkaar21 ki asha’ar ki duniya hai yahi
jaan e mazmuN22 hai yahi, shahid e maa’na23 hai yahi
aaj tak surKh o siyah24 sadiyon25 ke saaye ke tale`
aadam o havva ki aulaad26 pe kya guzri hai
maut aur zeest27 ki rozana saf aaraai28 meN
ham pe kya guzregi, ajdaad29 pe kya guzri hai
21.thoughts, musings, dreams 22.life of the theme 23.beauty of meaning 24.red and black, happy and sad 25.centuries 26.progeny of Adam and Eve, humanity 27.death and life 28.daily battle (saf araaii – forming battle lines) 29.forebears
This alone is the world of my dreams and my verse. This alone is the lifeblood of my themes, the beauty of the (hidden) meaning of my outpourings. Through these ages, dark and bloodied as they have been, how has the offspring of Adam and Eve fared. In the life and death struggle from day to day, how will humanity fare, how did our forebears endure it all.
in damakte30 hue shahroN ki faravaaN31 maKhlooq32
kyuN faqat33 marne ki hasrat34 meN jiya karti hai
ye haseeN khet, phaTa paRta hai joban35 jin ka
kis liye in meN faqat33 bhook uga karti hai
30.shining 31.numerous 32.creation, creatures, people 33.only 34.longing, desire 35.youthful bloom, breasts
The multitude in these shining cities, why does it have to struggle so much merely to survive. These rich fields, bursting with bounty, why is hunger their only harvest.
ye har ek simt36 pur asraar37 kaRi38 deevareN
jal bujhe jin meN hazaaroN ki javaani ke chiraGh
ye har ek gaam39 pe un KhwaaboN ki maqtal gaaheN40
jin ke partau41 se chiraGhaaN42 haiN hazaroN ke dimaaGh
36.direction 37.mysterious, secretive 38.hard, forbidding 39.pathways 40.slaughterhouses 41.reflection, inspiration 42.shining
In every direction secretive, forbidding walls where the light of youthful ambition is snuffed out. At every step, dreams suffocated, dreams that have lit up thousands of minds.
ye bhi haiN, aise kaii aur bhi mazmooN43 hoNge
laikin us shooKh44 ke aahesta se khulte hue honT
haae us jism ke kambaKht45 dilaavez46 Khatoot47
aap hi kahiye kaheeN aise bhi afsooN48 hoNge
apna mauzoo e suKhan49 in ke siva50 aur nahiN
taba’a51 shaa’er ka vatan52 in ke siva aur nahiN
43.themes, subjects 44.mischievous 45.wretched 46.heart pleasing
47.lines, form, shape 48.magic, enchantment 49.theme of poetry 50.except for 51.nature, instinct 52.home
These and many more themes there are, but, ah those playful, teasing, parting lips and the comely curves of that ravishing body. Can there be anything more enchanting than this! The theme of my verse cannot be anything but this. The instinct of the poet cannot be anything but this.
