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Recitation
سرِ شاخِ گُل ۔ نذرِ احمد ندیم قاسمی ۔ پروین شاکر
۱
وہ سایہ دار شجر
وہ مجھ سے دُور، بہت دُور ہے مگر اُس کی
لطیف چھاؤں
سجل، نرم چاندنی کی طرح
مرے وجود، مری شخصیت پہ چھائی ہے!
۲
وہ ماں کی باہوں کی مانند مہرباں شاخیں
جو ہر عذاب میں مجھ کو سمیٹ لیتی ہیں
۳
وہ ایک مُشفِق دیرینہ کی دعا کی طرح
شریر جھونکوں سے پتّوں کی نرم سرگوشی
کلام کرنے کا لہجہ مجھے سکھاتی ہے
۴
وہ دوستوں کی حسیں مسکراہٹوں کی طرح
شفق عذار، دھنک پیرہن شگوفے جو
مجھے زمیں سے محبّت کا درس دیتے ہیں
۵
اُداسیوں کی کسی جاںگداز ساعت میں
میں اُس کی شاخ پہ سر رکھ کے جب بھی روئی ہوں
تو میری پلکوں نے محسوس کر لیا فوراً
بہت ہی نرم سی اِک پنکھڑی کا شیریں لمس
نمی تھی آنکھ میں لیکن میں مسکرائی ہوں
۶
کڑی ہے دھوپ
تو پھر برگ برگ ہے شبنم
تپاں ہوں لہجے
تو پھر پھول پھول ہے ریشم
ہرے ہوں زخم
تو سب کونپلوں کا رس مرہم!
۷
وہ ایک خوشبو
جو میرے وجود کے اندر
صداقتوں کی طرح زینہ زینہ اُتری ہے
مجھے قبول، کہ وجداں نہیں ہی چاند مرا
یہ روشنی مجھے اِدراک دے رہی ہے مگر
۸
وہ ایک جھونکا
جو اُس شہرِ گُل سے آیا تھا
اب اُس کے ساتھ بہت دُور جا چکی ہوں میں
میں ایک ننھی سی بچی ہوں اور خموشی سے
بس اُس کی اُنگلیاں تھامے اور آنکھیں بند کئے
جہاں جہاں لئے جاتا ہے جا رہی ہوں میں
۹
وہ سایہ دار شجر
جو دِن میں میرے لئے ماں کا نرم آنچل ہے
وہ رات میں، مرے آنگن پہ ٹھہرنے والا
شفیق، نرم زباں، مہربان بادل ہے
۱۰
مرے دریچوں میں جب چاندنی نہیں آتی
جو بے چراغ کوئی شب اُترنے لگتی ہے
تو میری آنکھیں کِرن کے شجر کو سوچتی ہیں
دبیز پردے نگاہوں سے ہٹنے لگتے ہیں
ہزار چاند، سرِ شاخِ گُل اُبھرتے ہیں
सर-ए शाख़-ए गुल – नज़्र-ए अहमद नदीज क़ासमी
१
वो साया-दार शजर
वो मुझ से दूर, बहुत दूर है मगर उस कि
लतीफ़ छाऊं
सजल, नर्म चांदनी की तरह
मेरे वुजूद, मेरी शख़्सियत पे छाई है
२
वो मां कि बाहौं के मानिंद मेहरबां शाख़ें
जो हर अज़ाब में मुझ को समेट लेती हैं
३
वो एक मुश्फ़िक़-ए देरीना की दुआ कि तरह
शरीर आंखौं से पत्तौं कि नर्म सरगोशी
कलाम करने का लहजा मुझे सिखाती है
४
वो दोस्तौं कि हसीं मुस्कुरुहाटौं कि तरह
शफ़क़ अज़ार, धनक पैरहन शगूफ़े जो
मुझे ज़मीं से मोहब्बत का दर्स देते हैं
५
उदासियौं कि किसी जांगुदाज़ साअत में
मैं उस की शाख़ पे सर रख के जब भी रोई हूं
तो मेरी पल्कौं ने महसूस कर लिया फ़ौरन
बहुत हि नर्म सि एक पंखढी का शीरीं लम्स
नमी थी आंख में लौकिन मैं मुस्कुराई हूं
६
कढी है धूप
तो फिर बर्ग बर्ग है शब्नम
तपां हों लहजे
तो फिर फूल फूल है रेशम
हरे हों ज़ख़्म
तो सब कोंपलौं का रस मरहम!
७
वो एक ख़ुश्बू
जो मेरे वुजूद के अंदर
सदाक़तौं कि तरह ज़ीना ज़ीना उतरी है
मुझे क़ुबूल के वज्दां नहीं है चांद मेरा
ये रौशनी मुझे इद्राक दे रही है मगर
८
वो एक झोंका
जो इस शहर-ए गुल से आया था
अब उस के साथ बहुत दूर जा चुकी हूं मैं
मैं एक नन्ही सि बच्ची हुं और ख़मोशी से
बस उस कि उंग्लियां थामे और आंखें बंद किए
जहां जहां लिए जाता है जा रही हुं मैं
९
वो सायादार शजर
जो दिन में मेरे लिए मां का नर्म आंचल है
वो रात में मेरे आंगन पे ठहरने वाला
शफ़ीक़, नर्म ज़बां, महरबान बादल है
१०
मेरे दरीचौं में जब चांदनी नहीं आती
जो बे-चिराग़ कोई शब उतरने लगती है
तो मेरी आंखें किरन के शजर को सोचती हैं
दबीज़ पर्दे निगाहौं से हटने लगते हैं
हज़ार चांद सर-ए शाख़-ए गुल, उभरते हैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. parvin shakir (1952-1994), English literature and linguistics, correspondent, educator, Pakistan Civil Service. Prolific writer bringing new thought and new forthright, feminist style to urdu shaa’eri. This is a very sensitive and loving tribute to her uncle and mentor, ahmed nadeem qaasimi (1916-2006).
1
vo saaya-daar shajar1
vo mujh se duur, bahut duur hai, magar us ki
latif2 chhaauN
sajal3, narm chaandni ki tarah
mere vujood4, meri shaKhsiyat5 pe chhaaii hai 1.tree 2.delicate, comforting 3.clean, pure 4.existence 5.personality
That shade providing (protecting, nurturing) tree (ahmed nadeem qaasimi, the poet’s uncle and mentor), far, far from me, but still its delicate shade, spreads over my existence, my life and my personality.
2
vo maaN ki baahoN1 ki maanind2 mehrbaaN3 shaaKheN
jo har azaab4 meN mujh ko sameT5 leti haiN 1.arms 2.similar to, like 3.kind, affectionate 4.curse, difficulty 5.gather
Those branches, like a mother’s affectionate arms, gather me in them, whenever I face difficulties.
3
vo ek mushfiq1-e dereena2 ki dua ki tarah
sharir aaNkhoN se pattoN ki narm sargoshi3
kalaam4 karne ka lahja5 mujhe sikhaati hai 1.affectionate, nurturing 2.long-standing 3.whisper 4.speaking, verse, recitation 5.accent, ability
Like the blessings of a long-standing, nurturing mentor, its leaves like playful eyes, in soft whispers, teach me the art of versification.
4
vo dostoN ki hasiN1 muskuraahaToN ki tarah
shafaq-azaar2, dhanak3 pairahan4, shagoofe5 jo
mujhe zamiN se mohabbat ka dars6 dete haiN 1.beautiful 2.affection raining 3.rainbow 4.clothing 5.tales, pleasantries 6.lesson
Like the beautiful, playful smile of friends, raining affection, clothed in rainbow colours, those pleasantries, give me lessons of love of the earth.
5
udaasiyoN ki kisi jaaNgudaaz1 saa’at2 meN
maiN us ki shaaKh pe sar rakh ke jab bhi roii huN
to meri palkoN ne mahsoos3 kar liya fauran4
bahut hi narm si ek paNkhaRi ka shiiriiN5 lams6
nami7 thi aaNkh meN laikin maiN muskuraaii huN 1.life sapping, painful 2.moments 3.feel 4.immediately 5.sweet, loving 6.touch, embrace 7.moist
In times of life-sapping sadness, whenever, I have lain my head on its branches and cried, my eye-lashes have immediately felt the loving embrace of a soft petal. My eyes still moist, I smiled.
6
kaRi hai dhoop
to phir barg1 barg hai shabnam
tapaaN2 hoN lahje
to phir phool phool hai resham
hare hoN zaKhm
to sab koNpaloN3 ka ras marham! 1.leaf 2.hot, painful 3.soft new shoots
Whenever the sun has burnt, every leaf has showered dew drops. Whenever accents have been sharp, every flower has given silky softness. Whenever wounds have bled, the sap of every shoot has provided salve/ointment.
7
vo ek Khushboo1
jo mere vujood2 ke andar
sadaaqatoN3 ki tarah zeena4 zeena utri hai
mujhe qubool5 ke vajdaaN6 nahiN hai chaand mera
ye raushni mujhe idraak7 de rahi hai magar 1.fragrance, inspiration to write verse 2.existence, person 3.truth 4.stairs, step 5.accept, admit 6.trance, mystic love 7.reason, knowledge
That fragrance, the inspiration to write verse, which has descended step by step into my existence/soul, I admit, is not mystic love, but has been granted to me by worldly knowledge/reason.
8
vo ek jhoNka1
jo is shahr-e-gul2 se aaya tha
ab us ke saath bahut duur jaa chuki huN maiN
maiN ek nanhi si bachchi huN aur Khamoshi se
bus us ki uNgliyaaN thaame aur aaNkheN bund kiye
jahaaN jahaaN liye jaata hai jaa rahi huN maiN 1.gust of fragrance 2.city of roses (ahmed nadeem qaasimi)
That gust of fragrance blowing from the city of roses, I have gone far with it (him). I am like a little girl, silently holding its/his finger, closing my eyes (trusting), go wherever he leads me.
9
vo saaya-daar shajar1
jo din meN mere liye maaN ka narm aaNchal hai
vo raat meN, mere aaNgan pe Thahrne vaala
shafiq2, narm zabaaN, mehrbaan3 baadal hai 1.tree 2.affectionate 3.kind
That shade-giving, protecting tree, is like a mother’s soft shawl during the day and during dark nights, hovers over my house like an affectionate, nurturing cloud.
10
mere dareeche1 meN jab chaandni2 nahiN aati
jo be-chiraaGh koii shab3 utarne lagti hai
to meri aaNkheN kiran ke shajar4 ko sochti haiN
dabeez5 parde nigaahoN se haTne lagte haiN
hazaar chaand, sar-e shaaKh-e-gul6 ubharte haiN 1.window 2.moonlight, happiness, inspiration 3.night 4.tree 5.thick 6.branch of flowers/roses
No moonlight in the windows could either be darkness/sadness or lack of inspiration to write. Whenever I have felt a lack of inspiration, whenever dark nights have descended upon me, my eyes have imagined that tree of light. Thick curtains on my eyes have been moved and a thousand moons (inspiration, encouragement) have emerged at the head of the branch of roses (ahmed nadeem qaasimi, her uncle and mentor).
parvin shakir (1952-1994), English literature and linguistics, correspondent, educator, Pakistan Civil Service. Prolific writer bringing new thought and new forthright, feminist style to urdu shaa’eri. This is a very sensitive and loving tribute to her uncle and mentor, ahmed nadeem qaasimi (1916-2006).
1
vo saaya-daar shajar1
vo mujh se duur, bahut duur hai, magar us ki
latif2 chhaauN
sajal3, narm chaandni ki tarah
mere vujood4, meri shaKhsiyat5 pe chhaaii hai
1.tree 2.delicate, comforting 3.clean, pure 4.existence 5.personality
That shade providing (protecting, nurturing) tree (ahmed nadeem qaasimi, the poet’s uncle and mentor), far, far from me, but still its delicate shade, spreads over my existence, my life and my personality.
2
vo maaN ki baahoN1 ki maanind2 mehrbaaN3 shaaKheN
jo har azaab4 meN mujh ko sameT5 leti haiN
1.arms 2.similar to, like 3.kind, affectionate 4.curse, difficulty 5.gather
Those branches, like a mother’s affectionate arms, gather me in them, whenever I face difficulties.
3
vo ek mushfiq1-e dereena2 ki dua ki tarah
sharir aaNkhoN se pattoN ki narm sargoshi3
kalaam4 karne ka lahja5 mujhe sikhaati hai
1.affectionate, nurturing 2.long-standing 3.whisper 4.speaking, verse, recitation 5.accent, ability
Like the blessings of a long-standing, nurturing mentor, its leaves like playful eyes, in soft whispers, teach me the art of versification.
4
vo dostoN ki hasiN1 muskuraahaToN ki tarah
shafaq-azaar2, dhanak3 pairahan4, shagoofe5 jo
mujhe zamiN se mohabbat ka dars6 dete haiN
1.beautiful 2.affection raining 3.rainbow 4.clothing 5.tales, pleasantries 6.lesson
Like the beautiful, playful smile of friends, raining affection, clothed in rainbow colours, those pleasantries, give me lessons of love of the earth.
5
udaasiyoN ki kisi jaaNgudaaz1 saa’at2 meN
maiN us ki shaaKh pe sar rakh ke jab bhi roii huN
to meri palkoN ne mahsoos3 kar liya fauran4
bahut hi narm si ek paNkhaRi ka shiiriiN5 lams6
nami7 thi aaNkh meN laikin maiN muskuraaii huN
1.life sapping, painful 2.moments 3.feel 4.immediately 5.sweet, loving 6.touch, embrace 7.moist
In times of life-sapping sadness, whenever, I have lain my head on its branches and cried, my eye-lashes have immediately felt the loving embrace of a soft petal. My eyes still moist, I smiled.
6
kaRi hai dhoop
to phir barg1 barg hai shabnam
tapaaN2 hoN lahje
to phir phool phool hai resham
hare hoN zaKhm
to sab koNpaloN3 ka ras marham!
1.leaf 2.hot, painful 3.soft new shoots
Whenever the sun has burnt, every leaf has showered dew drops. Whenever accents have been sharp, every flower has given silky softness. Whenever wounds have bled, the sap of every shoot has provided salve/ointment.
7
vo ek Khushboo1
jo mere vujood2 ke andar
sadaaqatoN3 ki tarah zeena4 zeena utri hai
mujhe qubool5 ke vajdaaN6 nahiN hai chaand mera
ye raushni mujhe idraak7 de rahi hai magar
1.fragrance, inspiration to write verse 2.existence, person 3.truth 4.stairs, step 5.accept, admit 6.trance, mystic love 7.reason, knowledge
That fragrance, the inspiration to write verse, which has descended step by step into my existence/soul, I admit, is not mystic love, but has been granted to me by worldly knowledge/reason.
8
vo ek jhoNka1
jo is shahr-e-gul2 se aaya tha
ab us ke saath bahut duur jaa chuki huN maiN
maiN ek nanhi si bachchi huN aur Khamoshi se
bus us ki uNgliyaaN thaame aur aaNkheN bund kiye
jahaaN jahaaN liye jaata hai jaa rahi huN maiN
1.gust of fragrance 2.city of roses (ahmed nadeem qaasimi)
That gust of fragrance blowing from the city of roses, I have gone far with it (him). I am like a little girl, silently holding its/his finger, closing my eyes (trusting), go wherever he leads me.
9
vo saaya-daar shajar1
jo din meN mere liye maaN ka narm aaNchal hai
vo raat meN, mere aaNgan pe Thahrne vaala
shafiq2, narm zabaaN, mehrbaan3 baadal hai
1.tree 2.affectionate 3.kind
That shade-giving, protecting tree, is like a mother’s soft shawl during the day and during dark nights, hovers over my house like an affectionate, nurturing cloud.
10
mere dareeche1 meN jab chaandni2 nahiN aati
jo be-chiraaGh koii shab3 utarne lagti hai
to meri aaNkheN kiran ke shajar4 ko sochti haiN
dabeez5 parde nigaahoN se haTne lagte haiN
hazaar chaand, sar-e shaaKh-e-gul6 ubharte haiN
1.window 2.moonlight, happiness, inspiration 3.night 4.tree 5.thick 6.branch of flowers/roses
No moonlight in the windows could either be darkness/sadness or lack of inspiration to write. Whenever I have felt a lack of inspiration, whenever dark nights have descended upon me, my eyes have imagined that tree of light. Thick curtains on my eyes have been moved and a thousand moons (inspiration, encouragement) have emerged at the head of the branch of roses (ahmed nadeem qaasimi, her uncle and mentor).
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