siyah raat kaTe-shamim taariq

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

تو سیہ رات کٹے ۔ شمیم طارقؔ

۱

نیند آنکھوں میں سمو لوں تو سیہ رات کٹے

یہ زمیں اوڑھ کے سو لوں تو سیہ رات کٹے

۲

قطرۂ اشک بھی لَو دیتے ہیں جگنو کی طرح

دو گھڑی پھوٹ کے رو لوں تو سیہ رات کٹے

۳

رونے دھونے سے نہیں اگتا خوشی کا سورج

قہقہے ہونٹ پہ بو لوں تو سیہ رات کٹے

۴

آنکھ نا دیدہ مناظر کے تجسس کا ہے نام

موتیاں آنکھ میں رولوں تو سیہ رات کٹے

۵

کربِ تنہائی مری روح کا کرتی ہے سنگھار

زہر احساس کا گھولوں تو سیہ رات کٹے

तो सियह रात कटे – शमीम तारक़

नींद आँखों में समो लूँ तो सियह रात कटे

ये ज़मीं ओढ़ के सो लूँ तो सियह रात कटे

क़तरा-ए-अश्क भी लौ देते हैं जुग्नू की तरह

दो घड़ी फूट के रो लूँ तो सियह रात कटे

रोने-धोने से नहीं उगता ख़ुशी का सूरज

क़हक़हे होंट पे बो लूँ तो सियह रात कटे

आँख ना-दीदा मनाज़िर के तजस्सुस का है नाम

मोतियाँ आँख में रोलूँ तो सियह रात कटे

कर्ब-ए-तन्हाई मिरी रूह का करती है सिंघार

ज़हर एहसास का घोलूँ तो सियह रात कटे

 

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. shamim tariq banaarsi (1952-????) has a number of biographies, commentaries and history to his credit in addition his shaa’eri. He appears to have been a sympathizer, if not a member of the Communist Party of India.
1
niiNd aaNkhoN meN samo luuN to siyah1 raat kaTe
ye zamiN oRh ke so luuN to siyah raat kaTe  
1.dark
The dark night is more like a night of oppression than a night of separation. The poet/revolutionary is more defiant in struggle than despondent in love. He wants to take control of ‘sleep’ and contain/fill it into his eyes. He wants to make the earth both his bed and his covering so that this dark night may pass.

2
qatra-e-ashk1 bhi lau2 dete haiN jugnu ki tarah
do ghaRi phuuT ke ro luuN to siyah raat kaTe  
1.tear drops 2.spark
If he controls his tears they linger on the eyelashes and sparkle like a lightning bug. But if he were to break down and sob/cry profusely then tears will sparkle/shine together and the dark night may pass. Is this a call to speak out in resistance, to not hold back?

3
rone-dhone se nahiN ugta Khushi ka suraj
qahqahe1 hoNT pe bo2 luN to siyah raat kaTe  
1.loud laughter 2.sow, plant
Weeping and crying will not make the sun of joy rise – just complaining/whimpering will not bring about the dawn of social/economic justice. I need to sow/plant seeds of loud laughter on lips, so that this dark night of injustice may pass.

4
aaNkh naa-dida1 manaazir2 ke tajassus3 ka hai naam
motiyaaN aaNkh meN roluN4 to siyah raat kaTe  
1.unseen, hidden 2.scene, vision 3.search 4.moti rolna means to sort pearls
Sorting pearls of tear drops is to select the most valuable ones. Cry out about that which matters. Eyes, having sight, means the ability to search for the hidden vision. Select the most important issues and ‘cry’ about them so that this dark night may pass.

5
karb-e-tanhaaii1 meri ruuh2 ka karti hai siNghaar
zahr ehsaas3 ka gholuN to siyah raat kaTe  
1.pain of loneliness 2.soul, spirit 3.feelings
The pain of loneliness embellishes his soul i.e. The pain of love brings out the best in him, makes him struggle even more. He wants to dissolve/mix the poison of painful feelings into soul so that this dark night may pass.

shamim tariq banaarsi (1952-????) has a number of biographies, commentaries and history to his credit in addition his shaa’eri.  He appears to have been a sympathizer, if not a member of the Communist Party of India.
1
niiNd aaNkhoN meN samo luuN to siyah1 raat kaTe
ye zamiN oRh ke so luuN to siyah raat kaTe

1.dark

The dark night is more like a night of oppression than a night of separation.  The poet/revolutionary is more defiant in struggle than despondent in love.  He wants to take control of ‘sleep’ and contain/fill it into his eyes.  He wants to make the earth both his bed and his covering so that this dark night may pass.
2
qatra-e-ashk1 bhi lau2 dete haiN jugnu ki tarah
do ghaRi phuuT ke ro luuN to siyah raat kaTe

1.tear drops 2.spark

If he controls his tears they linger on the eyelashes and sparkle like a lightning bug.  But if he were to break down and sob/cry profusely then tears will sparkle/shine together and the dark night may pass.  Is this a call to speak out in resistance, to not hold back?
3
rone-dhone se nahiN ugta Khushi ka suraj
qahqahe1 hoNT pe bo2 luN to siyah raat kaTe

1.loud laughter 2.sow, plant

Weeping and crying will not make the sun of joy rise – just complaining/whimpering will not bring about the dawn of social/economic justice.  I need to sow/plant seeds of loud laughter on lips, so that this dark night of injustice may pass.
4
aaNkh naa-dida1 manaazir2 ke tajassus3 ka hai naam
motiyaaN aaNkh meN roluN4 to siyah raat kaTe

1.unseen, hidden 2.scene, vision 3.search 4.moti rolna means to sort pearls

Sorting pearls of tear drops is to select the most valuable ones.  Cry out about that which matters.  Eyes, having sight, means the ability to search for the hidden vision.  Select the most important issues and ‘cry’ about them so that this dark night may pass.
5
karb-e-tanhaaii1 meri ruuh2 ka karti hai siNghaar
zahr ehsaas3 ka gholuN to siyah raat kaTe

1.pain of loneliness 2.soul, spirit 3.feelings

The pain of loneliness embellishes his soul i.e. The pain of love brings out the best in him, makes him struggle even more.  He wants to dissolve/mix the poison of painful feelings into soul so that this dark night may pass.

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