mosam-e garma ka aaKhiri gulaab-durga sahay suroor

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

موسمِ گرما کا آخری گلاب ۔ دُرگا سہائے سرورؔ جہان آبادی

۱

یہ آخری گلاب کا ہے یادگار پھول

اور شاخ پر کھلا ہوا تنہا چمن میں ہے

بیکس غریب فرقتِ احباب میں ملول

دھندلا سے اِک چراغِ سحر انجمن میں ہے

۲

ہے کوئی ہمگسار نہ ہمدم کوئی قریں

بچپن کے آشنا ہیں نہ وہ خانداں کے پھول

رخصت ہوئے چمن سے رفیقانِ ہمنشیں

بکھرے پڑے ہیں خاک پہ اب گلستاں کے پھول

۳

ننھی سی کوئی آہ، کلی بھی نہیں قریب

ڈالے جو عکس پھول سے رخ کا غریب پر

کچھ دردِ دل کا حال کہے جس سے غم نصیب

جو اُس کی آہِ سرد کو سن کر ہو نوحہ گر

۴

کمھلانے دوں گا تجھ کو میں تنہا نہ خاک پر

ڈر ہے نہ کنج میں تیری مِٹّی خراب ہو

احباب سو رہے ہیں جہاں تیرے بے خبر

جا تو بھی اُن کے ساتھ ہم آغوشِ خواب ہو

۵

کب تک زباں پہ فرقتِ احباب کا گِلہ

اب تیری پتیاں میں بچھاتا ہوں خاک پر

ہیں محوِ خوابِ مرگ جہاں تیرے آشنا

تجھ کو بھی اُن کے ساتھ سلاتا ہوں خاک پر

۶

رختِ سفر اُٹھاوں گا میں بھی جہاں سے جلد

احباب مجھ سے جب مرے ہو جائیں گے جدا

چھوٹوں گا مر کے ہجر کے دردِ نہاں سے جلد

تنہا کوئی جہاں میں جیا بھی تو کیا جیا

۷

کیا کہئیے کوئی آہ، کرے عمر جاوداں

سِلکِ وفا میں جب نہ رہے دُرّ آبدار

یارانِ رفتہ کا ہے زیارت کدہ جہاں

میری بھی بیکسی کا بنے گا وہیں مزار

۸

جب اُٹھ گئے جہان سے یارانِ زندہ دل

جی کر غمِ فراق کے صدمے سہے گا کون

کڑیاں تری اُٹھانے کو اے دردِ جاں گُسِل

اِس غمکدے میں آہ، اکیلا رہے گا کون

मोसम-ए गरमा का आख़्री गुलाब – दुर्गा सहाए सुरूर जहानाबादी

ये आख़्री गुलाब का है यादगार फूल

और शाख़ पर खिला हुआ तन्हा चमन में है

बेकस ग़रीब फ़ुर्क़त-ए अहबाब में मलूल

धुन्दला सा एक चराग़-ए सहर अंजुमन में है

है कोई हमगुसार न हमदम कोई क़रीं

बचपन के आश्ना हैं न वो ख़ान्दां के फूल

रुख़्सत हुए चमन से रफ़ीक़ान-ए हमनशीं

बिखरे पढे हैं ख़ाक पे अब गुल्सितां के फूल

नन्ही सि कोई आह, कली भी नहीं क़रीब

डाले जो अक्स फूल सय रुख़ का ग़रीब पर

कुछ दर्द-ए दिल का होल कहे जिस से ग़म नसीब

जो उस कि आह-ए सर्द को सुन कर हो नौहा गर

कुम्हलाने दूंगा तुझ को मैं तन्हा न ख़ाक पर

डर है न कुंज में तेरी मिट्टी ख़राब हो

अहबाब सो रहे हैं जहां तेरे बे-ख़बर

जा तू भी उन के साथ हम-आग़ोश-ए ख़्वाब हो

कब तक ज़बां पे फ़ुर्क़त-ए अहबाब का गिला

अब तेरी पत्तियां मैं बिछाता हुं ख़ाक पर

हैं महव-ए ख़्वाब-ए मर्ग जहां तेरे आश्ना

तुझ को भि उन के साथ सुलाता हुं ख़ाक पर

रख़्त-ए सफ़र उठाऊंगा मैं भि जहां से जल्द

अहबाब मुझ से जब मेरे हो जाएंगे जुदा

छूटूंगा मर के हिज्र के दर्द-ए नेहां से जल्द

तन्हा कोई जहां में जिया भी हो क्या जिया

क्या कहिये कोई आह करे उम्र जावेदां

सिल्क-ए वफ़ा में जब न रहे दुर्र-ए आबदार

यारान-ए रफ़्ता का है ज़्यारत कदा जहां

मेरी भी बेकसी का बनेगा वहीं मज़ार

जब उठ गए जहान से यारान-ए ज़िन्दा-दिल

जी कर ग़म-ए फ़िराक़ के सद्मे सहेगा कौन

कढियां तेरी उठाने को अए दर्द-ए जां-गुसिल

इस ग़मकदे में आह अकेला रहेगा कौन

 

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. durga sahay suroor (1873-1910) died young, probably because of excessive drinking. Tellingly, his books are named Khum-kada-e suroor, paimaana-e suroor, and Khum-Khaana-e suroor. He wrote about hindu religious themes also and moved easily and rhythmically between chaste urdu/farsi and hindi/khaRi boli. This is an urdu recomposition of Thomas Moore’s poem. It is amazing how true it is to the original, yet so elegant in language. It is linked to ‘English-urdu recompositions’ on the Theme page.
1
ye aaKhri gulaab ka hai yaadgaar1 phool
aur shaaKh par khila hua tanha2 chaman meN hai
bekas3, Ghariib, furqat4-e ahbaab5 meN malool6
dhundla sa ek charaaGh-e-sahr7 anjuman8 meN hai    
1.memorable 2.alone 3.helpless 4.separation 5.friends 6.sad, dejected 7.candle at dawn (about to be extinguished) 8.gathering
This is a memorable rose, blooming all by itself in the garden. Helpless and sad because of separation from friends. It is a like a faint candle of the late night about to be extinguished.

2
hai koi hamgusaar1 na hamdam2 koi qariiN3
bachpan ke aashna4 haiN na vo KhaandaaN ke phool
ruKhsat5 hue chaman se rafiiqaan6-e hamnashiiN7
bikhre8 paRe haiN Khaak9 pe ab gulsitaaN10 ke phool   
1.sorrow sharing, sympathizer 2.friend 3.near 4.familiar 5.departed 6.friends 7.together 8.scattered 9.dust 10.garden
There is no sympathizer or friend nearby. Neither family nor people he had been familiar with since childhood. Friends who used to be together have departed from the garden. Flowers of the garden are now scattered in the dust.

3
nanhi si koi aah1, kali bhi nahiN qariib2
Daale jo aks3 phool se ruKh4 ka Ghariib par
kuch dard5-e dil ka haal6 kahe jis se Gham-nasiib7
jo us ki aah-e-sard8 ko sun kar ho nauha-gar9    
1.alas 2.nearby 3.shadow, reflection 4.face 5.pain, sorrow 6.condition 7.fated for sorrow, ill-fated 8.cold/sad sigh 9.mourner, sympathizer
Alas, there is not even a little bud close by that can cast its shadow on the poor rose. No one to whom the ill-fated rose can relate the condition of his sorrowful heart, who might hear his long-drawn sad sigh and mourn with him.

4
kumhlaane1 duuNga tujh ko maiN tanha2 na Khaak3 par
Dar hai na kunj4 meN teri miTTi-Kharaab5 ho
ahbaab6 so rahe haiN jahaaN7 tere be-Khabar8
ja tuu bhi un ke saath ham-aaGhosh9-e Khwaab10 ho   
1.world 2.alone 3.dust 4.corner 5.‘miTTi Kharaab hona’ means ‘legacy destroyed’, ‘origin=miTTi disreputed’ 6.friends 7.where 8.unconsious, asleep 9.embrace 10.sleep
(There is not even a little bud that would say) … I will not let you wilt alone in the dust. I am fearful that your legacy will be lost in a corner. Go where your friends are sleeping and embrace sleep yourself.

5
kab tak zabaaN pe furqat-e-ahbaab1 ka gila2
ab teri pattiyaaN maiN bichhaata huN Khaak3 par
haiN mahv4-e Khwaab-e-marg5 jahaaN6 tere aashna7
tujh ko bhi un ke saath sulaata huN Khaak3 par    
1.separation from friends 2.complaint, mourning 3.dust 4.engrossed, preoccupied 5.sleep of death 6.where 7.friends
(Not even a small bud nearby who could cosole saying) … how long will the complaint of the loss of friends be on your tongue/lips. Now, I will lay your petals down on the dust, where your friends sleep the deep sleep of death. I will lay you too down in the same dust.

6
raKht-e-safar1 uThaauNga maiN bhi jahaaN2 se jald3
ahbaab4 mujh se jab mere ho jaa’eNge juda5
chhooTuNga6 mar ke hijr7 ke dard-e-nehaaN8 se jald3
tanha9 koi jahaaN2 me jiya bhi to kya jiya   
1.provisions for the journey 2.world 3.soon 4.friends 5.separated 6.escape 7.separation 8.hidden sorrow 9.alone
(The same little bud continues) … I too will soon pack my possessions for the journey from this world, when my friends will be separated from me. In death, I will escape the hidden sorrow of parting. What kind of a life can one lead when they are alone in the world.

7
kya kahiye koi aah1 kare umr2 jaavedaaN3
silk-e-vafa4 meN jab na rahe durr-e-aabdaar5
yaaraan-e-rafta6 ka hai ziyaarat-kada7 jahaaN8
meri bhi bekasi9 ka banega vahiiN mazaar10   
1.I wish 2.lifespan 3.eternal 4.thread of fidelity 5.shining pearl 6.old friends 7.place of offering tribute 8.where 9.helplessness 10.grave
(The same little bud continues) … how can one wish that life be eternal when there are no shining pearl left in the thread of fidelity. Where there is the place to make offerings to the memory of old friends, my helplessness too will find a grave there.

8
jab uTh gaye jahaan1 se yaaraan2-e zinda-dil3
jii4 kar Gham-e-firaaq5 ke sadme6 sahega7 kaun
kaRiyaaN8 teri uThaane ko aye dard9-e jaaN-gusil10
is Gham-kade11 meN aah12 akela13 rahega kaun   
1.world 2.friends 3.of welcoming hearts 4.continue living 5.sorrow of separation 6.blow, misfortune 8.hardness i.e., oppression 9.pain 10.life-sapping 11.house of sorrow 12.alas 13.alone
When friends with loving hearts have left this world, who can keep living and bear the blows of the sorrow of separation. Who wants to be left alone in this house of sorrow to bear the burden of this life-sapping pain of separation.

durga sahay suroor (1873-1910) died young, probably because of excessive drinking.  Tellingly, his books are named Khum-kada-e suroor, paimaana-e suroor, and Khum-Khaana-e suroor.  He wrote about hindu religious themes also and moved easily and rhythmically between chaste urdu/farsi and hindi/khaRi boli.  This is an urdu recomposition of Thomas Moore’s poem.  It is amazing how true it is to the original, yet so elegant in language.  It is linked to ‘English-urdu recompositions’ on the Theme page.
1
ye aaKhri gulaab ka hai yaadgaar1 phool
aur shaaKh par khila hua tanha2 chaman meN hai
bekas3, Ghariib, furqat4-e ahbaab5 meN malool6
dhundla sa ek charaaGh-e-sahr7 anjuman8 meN hai

1.memorable 2.alone 3.helpless 4.separation 5.friends 6.sad, dejected 7.candle at dawn (about to be extinguished) 8.gathering

This is a memorable rose, blooming all by itself in the garden.  Helpless and sad because of separation from friends.  It is a like a faint candle of the late night about to be extinguished.
2
hai koi hamgusaar1 na hamdam2 koi qariiN3
bachpan ke aashna4 haiN na vo KhaandaaN ke phool
ruKhsat5 hue chaman se rafiiqaan6-e hamnashiiN7
bikhre8 paRe haiN Khaak9 pe ab gulsitaaN10 ke phool

1.sorrow sharing, sympathizer 2.friend 3.near 4.familiar 5.departed 6.friends 7.together 8.scattered 9.dust 10.garden

There is no sympathizer or friend nearby.  Neither family nor people he had been familiar with since childhood.  Friends who used to be together have departed from the garden.  Flowers of the garden are now scattered in the dust.
3
nanhi si koi aah1, kali bhi nahiN qariib2
Daale jo aks3 phool se ruKh4 ka Ghariib par
kuch dard5-e dil ka haal6 kahe jis se Gham-nasiib7
jo us ki aah-e-sard8 ko sun kar ho nauha-gar9

1.alas 2.nearby 3.shadow, reflection 4.face 5.pain, sorrow 6.condition 7.fated for sorrow, ill-fated 8.cold/sad sigh 9.mourner, sympathizer

Alas, there is not even a little bud close by that can cast its shadow on the poor rose.  No one to whom the ill-fated rose can relate the condition of his sorrowful heart, who might hear his long-drawn sad sigh and mourn with him.
4
kumhlaane1 duuNga tujh ko maiN tanha2 na Khaak3 par
Dar hai na kunj4 meN teri miTTi-Kharaab5 ho
ahbaab6 so rahe haiN jahaaN7 tere be-Khabar8
ja tuu bhi un ke saath ham-aaGhosh9-e Khwaab10 ho

1.world 2.alone 3.dust 4.corner 5.‘miTTi Kharaab hona’ means ‘legacy destroyed’, ‘origin=miTTi disreputed’ 6.friends 7.where 8.unconsious, asleep 9.embrace 10.sleep

(There is not even a little bud that would say) … I will not let you wilt alone in the dust.  I am fearful that your legacy will be lost in a corner.  Go where your friends are sleeping and embrace sleep yourself.
5
kab tak zabaaN pe furqat-e-ahbaab1 ka gila2
ab teri pattiyaaN maiN bichhaata huN Khaak3 par
haiN mahv4-e Khwaab-e-marg5 jahaaN6 tere aashna7
tujh ko bhi un ke saath sulaata huN Khaak3 par

1.separation from friends 2.complaint, mourning 3.dust 4.engrossed, preoccupied 5.sleep of death 6.where 7.friends

(Not even a small bud nearby who could cosole saying) … how long will the complaint of the loss of friends be on your tongue/lips.  Now, I will lay your petals down on the dust, where your friends sleep the deep sleep of death.  I will lay you too down in the same dust.
6
raKht-e-safar1 uThaauNga maiN bhi jahaaN2 se jald3
ahbaab4 mujh se jab mere ho jaa’eNge juda5
chhooTuNga6 mar ke hijr7 ke dard-e-nehaaN8 se jald3
tanha9 koi jahaaN2 me jiya bhi to kya jiya

1.provisions for the journey 2.world 3.soon 4.friends 5.separated 6.escape 7.separation 8.hidden sorrow 9.alone

(The same little bud continues) … I too will soon pack my possessions for the journey from this world, when my friends will be separated from me.  In death, I will escape the hidden sorrow of parting.  What kind of a life can one lead when they are alone in the world.
7
kya kahiye koi aah1 kare umr2 jaavedaaN3
silk-e-vafa4 meN jab na rahe durr-e-aabdaar5
yaaraan-e-rafta6 ka hai ziyaarat-kada7 jahaaN8
meri bhi bekasi9 ka banega vahiiN mazaar10

1.I wish 2.lifespan 3.eternal 4.thread of fidelity 5.shining pearl 6.old friends 7.place of offering tribute 8.where 9.helplessness 10.grave

(The same little bud continues) … how can one wish that life be eternal when there are no shining pearl left in the thread of fidelity.  Where there is the place to make offerings to the memory of old friends, my helplessness too will find a grave there. 
8
jab uTh gaye jahaan1 se yaaraan2-e zinda-dil3
jii4 kar Gham-e-firaaq5 ke sadme6 sahega7 kaun
kaRiyaaN8 teri uThaane ko aye dard9-e jaaN-gusil10
is Gham-kade11 meN aah12 akela13 rahega kaun

1.world 2.friends 3.of welcoming hearts 4.continue living 5.sorrow of separation 6.blow, misfortune 8.hardness i.e., oppression 9.pain 10.life-sapping 11.house of sorrow 12.alas 13.alone

When friends with loving hearts have left this world, who can keep living and bear the blows of the sorrow of separation.  Who wants to be left alone in this house of sorrow to bear the burden of this life-sapping pain of separation.

Thomas Moore (28 May 1779 – 25 February 1852) was an Irish writer, poet, and lyricist celebrated for his Irish Melodies.

‘Tis the last rose of summer,
Left blooming alone;
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone;
No flower of her kindred,
No rose-bud is nigh,
To reflect back her blushes
Or give sigh for sigh!

I’ll not leave thee, thou lone one.
To pine on the stem;
Since the lovely are sleeping,
Go, sleep thou with them;
Thus kindly I scatter
Thy leaves o’er the bed,
Where thy mates of the garden
Lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow,
When friendships decay,
And from love’s shining circle
The gems drop away!
When true hearts lie withered,
And fond ones are flown,
Oh! who would inhabit
This bleak world alone?