For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
میر انیس ۔ سحر
پہلا انتخاب
آمد وہ آفتاب کی وہ صبح کا سماں
تھاضو سے جس کی وجد میں طاوسِ آسماں
ذرّوں کی روشنی پہ ستاروں کاتھاگماں
نہرِ فرات بیچ میں تھی مِثل کہکشاں
ہر نخل پر ضیاء سرِ کوہِ طور تھی
گویا فلک سے بارشِ بارانِ نور تھی
دوسرا اِنتخاب
گرمی کی سحر اور وہ پھولوں کامہکنا
مرغان چمن کا وہ درختوں پہ چہکنا
انجم کاوہ چھپناکبھی اور گاہ چمکنا
وہ سرد ہوا اور وہ سبزے کالہکنا
اس دشت میں روتی تھی جوشبنم شہ دیں پر
تھاموتیوں کافرش زمرّد کی زمیں پر
تیسرا اِنتخاب
وہ صبح اور وہ چھاؤں ستاروں کی اور وہ نور
دیکھے تو غش کرے ارنی گوۓاوج طور
پیدا گُلوں سے قدرتِ اللہ کاظہور
وہ جابجا درختوں پہ تسبیح خواں طیور
گلشن خجِل تھے وادئیِ مینواساس سے
جنگل تھاسب بساہوا پھولوں کی باس سے
چوتھا اِنتخاب
ٹھنڈی ہوا میں سبزۂ صحرا کی وہ لہک
شرماۓ جس سے اطلس زنگاریِ فلک
وہ جھومنا درختوں کاپھولوں کی وہ مہک
ہر برگ گُل پہ قطرہ شبنم کی وہ چمک
ہیرے خجِل تھے، گوہر یکتا نِثار تھے
پتّے بھی ہر شجر کے جواہر نگار تھے
پانچواں اِنتخاب
وہ نور اور وہ دشت سہاناسا، وہ فضا
درّاج و کُبک و تیہو و طاؤس کی صدا
وہ جوشِ گُل، وہ نالۂ مرغانِ خوش نوا
سردی جگر کو بخشتی تھی صبح کی ہوا
پھولوں کے سبز سبز شجر سرخ پوش تھے
تھالے بھی نخل کے سبدِ گل فروش تھے
چھٹا اِنتخاب
وہ دشت وہ نسیم کے جھونکے وہ سبزہ زار
پھولوں پہ جابجاوہ گہر ہاۓ آبدار
اُٹھناوہ جھوم جھوم کے شاخوں کابار بار
بالاۓ نخل ایک جو بُلبُل تو گل ہزار
خواہاں تھے زیبِ گلشنِ زہرہ جو آب کے
شبنم نے بھر دۓ تھے کٹورے گلاب کے
मीर अनीस – सहर
१
आमद वो आफ़्ताब की वो सुबह का समां
था ज़ौ से जिस की वज्द में ता’ऊस आस्मां
ज़र्रों की रौशनी पे सितारों का था गुमां
नहर-ए फ़ुरात बीच में थी मिस्ल-ए कह्कशां
हर नख़्ल नख्ल पर ज़िआ-ए सर-ए कोह-ए तूर थी
गोया फ़लक से बारिश-ए बारान-ए नूर थी
२
गर्मी की सहर और वो फूलों का महकना
मुर्ग़ान-ए चमन का वो दरख़्तों पे चहकना
अंजुम का वो छुपना कभी और गाह चमकना
वो सर्द हवा और वो सब्ज़े का लहकना
इस दश्त में रोती थी जो शबनम शह-ए दीं पर
था मोतियों का फ़र्श ज़मर्रुद की ज़मीं पर
३
वो सुबह और वो छाऊँ सितारों की और वो नूर
देखे तो ग़श करे अरनी गो-ए औज-ए तूर
पैदा गुलों से क़ुद्रत-ए अल्लाह का ज़हूर
वो जा बजा दरख़्तों पे तसबीह ख़्वाँ तुयूर
गुलशन ख़जिल थे वादी-ए मीनू असास से
जंगल था सब बसा हुआ फूलों की बास से
४
ठन्डि हवा में सब्ज़ा-ए सेहरा कि वो लहक
शरमाए जिस से अत्लस-ए ज़न्गारी-ए फ़लक
वो झूमना दरख़्तों का फूलों की वो महक
हर बर्ग-ए गुल पे क़तरा-ए शबनम की वो चमक
हीरे ख़जिल थे, गौहर-ए यकता निसार थे
पत्ते भी हर शजर के जवाहर निगार थे
५
वो नूर और वो दश्त सुहाना सा, वो फ़िज़ा
दर्राज ओ कुब्क ओ तीहू ओ ता’ऊस की सदा
वो जोश-ए गुल वो नाला-ए मुरग़ान-ए ख़ुश नवा
सर्दी जिगर को बख़्शती थी सुबह की हवा
फूलों के सब्ज़ सब्ज़ शजर सुर्ख़ पोश थे
थाले भी नख़्ल के सबद-ए गुल फ़रोश थे
६
वो दश्त वो नसीम के झोंके वो सब्ज़ा ज़ार
फूलों पे जा बजा वो गोहर-हा-ए आबदार
उठना वो झूम झूम के शाख़ों का बार बार
बाला-ए नख़्ल एक जो बुलबुल तो गुल हज़ार
ख़्वाहां थे ज़ेब-ए गुलशन-ए ज़हरा जो आब के
शबनम ने भर दिए थे कटोरे गुलाब के
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion.Given below are selections from various marsia of anis, where he describes dawn. Each stanza is from a different marsia. It should be noted that the description is of the purported dawn in Karbala with its burning hot, barren, tree-less desert, anis takes liberal poetic license and describes dawn more in terms of the scenes, the flora and the fauna that he might have seen in avadh.
mir anis – sahr
First Selection
aamad1 vo aaftab2 ki vo subah ka samaaN3
tha zau4 se jis ki vajd5 meN taa’uus6 aasmaaN
zarrauN7 ki raushni pe sitaarauN ka thaa gumaaN8
nahr9-e furaat10 beech meN thi misl11-e kahkashaaN12
har naKl13 par zia14-e sar15-e koh16-e toor17 thi
goya18 falak19 se baarish-e baaraan20-e noor thi1.arrival 2.sun 3.scene 4.brilliance 5.trance 6.peacock 7.particles (of dust/sand) 8.suspicion 9.canal, river 10.Euphrates 11.like, example 12.constellation, Milky Way 13.tree, date palm 14.light 15.head, peak 16.mountain 17.Mt.Toor on which Moses is supposed to have seen the light of god (burning bush) 18.as if 19.sky 20.shower
The scene of dawn, with the arrival of the sun became so brilliant (colourful) that it looked as if the sky was in a trance displaying a range of colours like a dancing peacock. The particles of sand (or dew drops) shone like stars and the Euphrates cutting through this “sea of stars” looked like the band of the Milky Way galaxy. The divine light of Toor shone atop each tree. It looked as if light was showering down from the sky.
Second Selection
garmi ki sahr1 aur vo phoolauN ka mahakna
murGhaan2-e chaman ka vo daraKhtauN pe chahakna
anjum3 ka vo chhupna kabhi aur gaah4 chamakna
vo sard5 hava aur vo sabze6 ka lahakna7
is dasht8 meN roti thi jo shabnam shah-e deeN9 par
tha motiyauN ka farsh10 zamarrud11 ki zamiN par1.dawn 2.song birds 3.stars 4.at times 5.cool 6.greenery, plants 7.waving, shining, giving fragrance 8.wilderness 9.king of faith, husain 10.floor 11.emerald, green, verdant
That dawn of summer, the fragrance of flowers, the twittering of song birds and the hide and seek of stars. Verdant plants waving in the cool breeze. In that wilderness when Dew wept at the thirst of Husain, her tear drops fell on the verdant green floor like pearls. Recall that the setting is the desert of Karbala but our focus is on the poetic description of dawn! mir anis has taken poetic liberties and described dawn that he might have experienced in avadh.
Third Selection
vo subah aur vo chhaauN1 sitaarauN ki aur vo noor
dekhe to Ghash2 kare` arani go3-e auj4-e toor5
paida gulauN se qudrat6-e allah ka zahoor7
vo jaa bajaa8 daraKhtauN pe tasbeeh KhwaaN9 tuyoor10
gulshan11 Khajil12 the vaadi13-e meenu14 asaas15 se
jangal tha sub basaa hua phoolauN ki baas se1.shade, faint glow 2.faint 3.the one who said, “show me” – Quranic verse, where Moses is supposed to have gone to the top of Mt.Toor and said to god, “show me your form” and when the burning bush appeared, he fainted 4.peak 5.Mt.Sinai/Toor 6.nature, qualities 7.display, manifestation 8.everywhere 9.clicking prayer beads/rosary, twittering 10.birds 11.garden 12.ashamed 13.valley 14.paradise 15.based on, modeled after
The faint glow of stars and that soft light. If anyone were to ask to see the proof of the existence of god, he would have fainted looking at this scene. All flowers were a manifestation of the benevolence of god. Everywhere on trees, songbirds twittering like the clicking of rosary beads. Gardens were shamefaced at this beautiful valley modelled after the garden of Eden (paradise). The wilderness filled with fragrance of flowers.
Fourth Selection
ThanDi hava meN sabza1-e sehra2 ki vo lahak3
sharmaae jis se atlas4-e zangaari-e falak5
vo jhoomna daraKhtauN ka phoolauN ki vo mahak
har barg6-e gul pe qatra7-e shabnam ki vo chamak
heere Khajil8 the, gauhar9-e yakta10 nisaar11 the
patte bhi har shajar12 ke javaahar nigaar13 the1.greenery, plants, grass 2.wilderness 3.fragrance, waving, shining 4.velvet 5.beautification/decoration of the sky 6.petal 7.drop 8.ashamed 9.pearls 10.unique, rare 11.sacrifice, pay homage to 12.trees 13.to show, to display
The waving of green grass in the cool morning breeze, which puts to shame the velvety beauty of the sky. The swaying of trees and the fragrance of flowers. On every petal the brilliance of dew drops which puts diamonds to shame and force rare pearls to pay homage. Even leaves are a display of gems.
Fifth Selection
vo noor1 aur vo dasht2 suhaana3 sa, vo fiza4
darraaj5 o kubk6 o teehu7 o taa’uus8 ki sadaa9
vo josh10-e gul vo naala11-e murGhaan12-e Khush navaa13
sardi jigar14 ko baKhshti15 thi subah ki havaa
phoolauN ke sabz16 sabz shajar surKh17 posh18 the
thaale19 bhi naKl20 ke sabad21-e gul farosh22 the1.light, brilliance 2.wilderness 3.pleasant 4.breeze 5.pheasant 6.partridge 7.quail (bird) 8.peacock 9.sound 10.passion, beauty 11.song 12.song birds 13.sweet voiced 14.liver/heart 15.grant 16.verdant 17.red 18.dress, robe 19.tray, palm frond 20.(palm) tree 21.basket 22.flower vendor
The soft light of that pleasant wilderness and that breeze. The sound of pheasant, quail, partridge and peacock all around. The beauty of flowers/rose and the sweet sounds of song-birds. Winter granting the gift of a cool morning breeze. Verdant flowering trees look like they are cloaked in a red robe. Even palm fronds look like trays of flowers for the flower vendor.
Sixth Selection
vo dasht1 vo naseem2 ke jhoNke3 vo sabza zaar4
phoolauN pe jaa bajaa vo gohar-haa5-e aabdaar6
uThna vo jhoom jhoom7 ke shaaKhauN ka baar baar
baala8-e naKhl9 ek jo bulbul to gul hazaar
KhwaahaaN10 the zeb11-e gulshan12-e zehra13 jo aab ke
shabnam ne bhar diye the kaTore gulaab ke1.wilderness, jungle 2.fragrant morning breeze 3.gusts 4.grass field, meadow 5.pearls (haa is for plural) 6.watery 7.swinging, swaying 8.top of 9.tree 10.desirous 11.pride 12.garden 13.fatima (daughter of mohammed) – thus pride of the garden of zehra is the family of zehra – husain and his family
That wilderness, the meadow and gusts of fragrant morning breeze. Drops of pearls on flower petals all around. Tree branches swinging/swaying in the breeze. For every bulbul on a tree, there are a thousand flowers. Seeing that the family of fatima zehra was thirsty, dew had filled rose-petal cups with water.
Given below are selections from various marsia of anis, where he describes dawn. Each stanza is from a different marsia. It should be noted that the description is of the purported dawn in Karbala with its burning hot, barren, tree-less desert, anis takes liberal poetic license and describes dawn more in terms of the scenes, the flora and the fauna that he might have seen in avadh.
mir anis – sahr
First Selection
aamad1 vo aaftab2 ki vo subah ka samaaN3
tha zau4 se jis ki vajd5 meN taa’uus6 aasmaaN
zarrauN7 ki raushni pe sitaarauN ka thaa gumaaN8
nahr9-e furaat10 beech meN thi misl11-e kahkashaaN12
har naKl13 par zia14-e sar15-e koh16-e toor17 thi
goya18 falak19 se baarish-e baaraan20-e noor thi
1.arrival 2.sun 3.scene 4.brilliance 5.trance 6.peacock 7.particles (of dust/sand) 8.suspicion 9.canal, river 10.Euphrates 11.like, example 12.constellation, Milky Way 13.tree, date palm 14.light 15.head, peak 16.mountain 17.Mt.Toor on which Moses is supposed to have seen the light of god (burning bush) 18.as if 19.sky 20.shower
The scene of dawn, with the arrival of the sun became so brilliant (colourful) that it looked as if the sky was in a trance displaying a range of colours like a dancing peacock. The particles of sand (or dew drops) shone like stars and the Euphrates cutting through this “sea of stars” looked like the band of the Milky Way galaxy. The divine light of Toor shone atop each tree. It looked as if light was showering down from the sky.
Second Selection
garmi ki sahr1 aur vo phoolauN ka mahakna
murGhaan2-e chaman ka vo daraKhtauN pe chahakna
anjum3 ka vo chhupna kabhi aur gaah4 chamakna
vo sard5 hava aur vo sabze6 ka lahakna7
is dasht8 meN roti thi jo shabnam shah-e deeN9 par
tha motiyauN ka farsh10 zamarrud11 ki zamiN par
1.dawn 2.song birds 3.stars 4.at times 5.cool 6.greenery, plants 7.waving, shining, giving fragrance 8.wilderness 9.king of faith, husain 10.floor 11.emerald, green, verdant
That dawn of summer, the fragrance of flowers, the twittering of song birds and the hide and seek of stars. Verdant plants waving in the cool breeze. In that wilderness when Dew wept at the thirst of Husain, her tear drops fell on the verdant green floor like pearls. Recall that the setting is the desert of Karbala but our focus is on the poetic description of dawn! mir anis has taken poetic liberties and described dawn that he might have experienced in avadh.
Third Selection
vo subah aur vo chhaauN1 sitaarauN ki aur vo noor
dekhe to Ghash2 kare` arani go3-e auj4-e toor5
paida gulauN se qudrat6-e allah ka zahoor7
vo jaa bajaa8 daraKhtauN pe tasbeeh KhwaaN9 tuyoor10
gulshan11 Khajil12 the vaadi13-e meenu14 asaas15 se
jangal tha sub basaa hua phoolauN ki baas se
1.shade, faint glow 2.faint 3.the one who said, “show me” – Quranic verse, where Moses is supposed to have gone to the top of Mt.Toor and said to god, “show me your form” and when the burning bush appeared, he fainted 4.peak 5.Mt.Sinai/Toor 6.nature, qualities 7.display, manifestation 8.everywhere 9.clicking prayer beads/rosary, twittering 10.birds 11.garden 12.ashamed 13.valley 14.paradise 15.based on, modeled after
The faint glow of stars and that soft light. If anyone were to ask to see the proof of the existence of god, he would have fainted looking at this scene. All flowers were a manifestation of the benevolence of god. Everywhere on trees, songbirds twittering like the clicking of rosary beads. Gardens were shamefaced at this beautiful valley modelled after the garden of Eden (paradise). The wilderness filled with fragrance of flowers.
Fourth Selection
ThanDi hava meN sabza1-e sehra2 ki vo lahak3
sharmaae jis se atlas4-e zangaari-e falak5
vo jhoomna daraKhtauN ka phoolauN ki vo mahak
har barg6-e gul pe qatra7-e shabnam ki vo chamak
heere Khajil8 the, gauhar9-e yakta10 nisaar11 the
patte bhi har shajar12 ke javaahar nigaar13 the
1.greenery, plants, grass 2.wilderness 3.fragrance, waving, shining 4.velvet 5.beautification/decoration of the sky 6.petal 7.drop 8.ashamed 9.pearls 10.unique, rare 11.sacrifice, pay homage to 12.trees 13.to show, to display
The waving of green grass in the cool morning breeze, which puts to shame the velvety beauty of the sky. The swaying of trees and the fragrance of flowers. On every petal the brilliance of dew drops which puts diamonds to shame and force rare pearls to pay homage. Even leaves are a display of gems.
Fifth Selection
vo noor1 aur vo dasht2 suhaana3 sa, vo fiza4
darraaj5 o kubk6 o teehu7 o taa’uus8 ki sadaa9
vo josh10-e gul vo naala11-e murGhaan12-e Khush navaa13
sardi jigar14 ko baKhshti15 thi subah ki havaa
phoolauN ke sabz16 sabz shajar surKh17 posh18 the
thaale19 bhi naKl20 ke sabad21-e gul farosh22 the
1.light, brilliance 2.wilderness 3.pleasant 4.breeze 5.pheasant 6.partridge 7.quail (bird) 8.peacock 9.sound 10.passion, beauty 11.song 12.song birds 13.sweet voiced 14.liver/heart 15.grant 16.verdant 17.red 18.dress, robe 19.tray, palm frond 20.(palm) tree 21.basket 22.flower vendor
The soft light of that pleasant wilderness and that breeze. The sound of pheasant, quail, partridge and peacock all around. The beauty of flowers/rose and the sweet sounds of song-birds. Winter granting the gift of a cool morning breeze. Verdant flowering trees look like they are cloaked in a red robe. Even palm fronds look like trays of flowers for the flower vendor.
Sixth Selection
vo dasht1 vo naseem2 ke jhoNke3 vo sabza zaar4
phoolauN pe jaa bajaa vo gohar-haa5-e aabdaar6
uThna vo jhoom jhoom7 ke shaaKhauN ka baar baar
baala8-e naKhl9 ek jo bulbul to gul hazaar
KhwaahaaN10 the zeb11-e gulshan12-e zehra13 jo aab ke
shabnam ne bhar diye the kaTore gulaab ke
1.wilderness, jungle 2.fragrant morning breeze 3.gusts 4.grass field, meadow 5.pearls (haa is for plural) 6.watery 7.swinging, swaying 8.top of 9.tree 10.desirous 11.pride 12.garden 13.fatima (daughter of mohammed) – thus pride of the garden of zehra is the family of zehra – husain and his family
That wilderness, the meadow and gusts of fragrant morning breeze. Drops of pearls on flower petals all around. Tree branches swinging/swaying in the breeze. For every bulbul on a tree, there are a thousand flowers. Seeing that the family of fatima zehra was thirsty, dew had filled rose-petal cups with water.
Given below are selections from various Shakespeare plays and poems where he describes dawn.
Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene iii
Romeo has just danced the night away and fallen in love with Juliet. Just before sunrise he arrives at Friar Laurence’s cell to seek advice/help. Friar Laurence is up early and describes dawn thus …
The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night,
Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light,
And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels
From forth day’s path and Titan’s fiery wheels:
Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye,
The day to cheer and night’s dank dew to dry,
Note that for Shakespeare the night’s dew is dank and has to be dried out by the advancing sun, but to Anis, dew drops are like pearls.
Venus and Adonis, (lines 875-880) -In this long narrative poem, Shakespeare describes dawn thus …
Lo, here the gentle lark, weary of rest,
From his moist cabinet mounts up on high,
And wakes the morning, from whose silver breast
The sun ariseth in his majesty;
Who doth the world so gloriously behold
That cedar-tops and hills seem burnish’d gold.
Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene 5.
In the Capulets’ garden, below Juliet’s window, Romeo hears the lark and senses the coming dawn. Juliet, distraught at the thought of his leaving tries to suggest that it was the nightingale, not the lark. Romeo responds with a beautiful description of dawn …
It was the lark, the herald of the morn,
No nightingale: look, love, what envious streaks
Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east:
Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.
Titus Adonicus, Act II, Scene iii.
Tamora, Queen of the Goths, falls in love with Aaron, a Moore. Aaron and Tamora meet in a forest at night. Aaron is hiding a bag of gold for future use and Tamora describes how they will be together when the sun shines and …
The birds chant melody on every bush,
The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun,
The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind
And make a chequer’d shadow on the ground:
Under their sweet shade, Aaron, let us sit,
Henry VI, Part III, Act II, Scene 1.
An early morning scene in an open field …
See how the morning opes her golden gates,
And takes her farewell of the glorious sun!
How well resembles it the prime of youth,
Trimm’d like a younker1 prancing to his love!
1.youth, young man.
