Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mohammed husain qamar jalaalavi (1887-1968), was born in jalaali, near aligaRh, moved to pakistan after partition/independence. He was popularly known as ‘ustad’, for his expertise in repairing bicycles, which is how he earned his living and lived in penury, in spite of his excellence as a poet. He wrote Ghazal is chaste classical style, many of which have been put to music. This is one of several thematic collections of his maqta in which he uses his taKhallus with great witticism.
1
ye bahut achha hua aayeNge vo pichhle-pahar¹
chaandni bhi Khatm jab tak aye qamar ho jaayegi     1.late at night
The beloved has promised to come, but of course she cannot come when the moon is out, for fear of being seen. It is good O qamar, that she has promised to come late at night. By that time, moonlight too will be gone. But the irony is that when moonlight is gone the moon/qamar will be gone too. Thus, she will arrive too late.
2
rusvaa¹ karegi dekh ke duniya mujhe qamar
is chaandni meN unko bulaane ko jaaye kaun   1.embarrassed
‘qamar’/poet/full moon is out. The night is lit up. She will not come for a tryst with lover. Thus, if the poet/lover goes to ask her to come he will of necessity be embarrassed by her refusal. He being ‘qamar’ is caught in a catch-22.
3
qamar zara bhi nahiN tum ko Khauf-e-rusvaai¹
chale ho chaandni shab² meN unheN bulaane ko    1.fear of embarrassment 2.night
This is another variation of the same theme as above. O qamar, you don’t seem to have the slightest fear of embarrassment. You are calling her to a tryst in this moonlit night! Of course, when ‘qamar’ is out the night will be moonlit.
4
maana¹ ke un se raat ka vaada² hai aye qamar
kaise vo aa sakeNge agar chaandni hui    1.I agree 2.promise (to come)
I agree that she has promised to come at night, O qamar. But how will she will be able to come if there is moonlight (for fear of being seen). Thus qamar is in a dilemma – an inescapable catch 22.
5
qamar, Dar to ye hai aGhyaar¹ dekheNge unheN
chaandni shab meN bulaa laayeN bulaa laane ko hum    1.strangers, rivals
Usually the beloved is hesitant to come for a rendezvous on moonlit nights for fear of being seen and getting her reputation maligned. But this time it is poet/lover who is jealous that rivals may see her. Otherwise, it was no big deal, he could have called her to come on a moonlit night.
6
udoo¹ shab ko milte haiN har raaste meN, nateeja² hi kya unki rusvaaiyaaN³ hoN
qamar chaandni aaj phaili hui hai, unheN tum bulaane ki koshish na karna    1.enemies, rivals 2.result 3.embarrassment
Here is another angle of why ‘qamar’ can never meet his beloved. He is fearful that rivals/enemies are about on every pathway. She is sure be seen if she comes out in the moonlight. So, O qamar, do not try to call her tonight. But every night when qamar is out, there will be moonlight!
7
aye qamar, qismat¹ chamak uTThi andheri raat meN
chaandni chhupte hi koii parda-daar² aa hi gaya    1.fortune 2.veil observing, beloved
O qamar, my fortune lit up in the dark of night. As soon as moonlight disappeared, the beloved came. Consider the beautiful opposites/impossibilities here – fortune lit up in the dark of night – the beloved came after ‘qamar’/moonlight was gone – how can that be good fortune.
8
maiN chaandni meN bulaata to huN vo kah deNge
qamar tumheN meri rusvaaii¹ ka Khyaal nahiN    1.embarrassment, shame
This is yet another variation of the theme – when the moon is out, she is afraid to come for a rendezvous for fear of being seen and whenever ‘qamar’ is about there will be moonlight. Thus, I may ask her to come, but she will simply say – don’t you ever think of my reputation.
9
chaandni raat ka kya lutf¹ qamar ko aaye
laakh taarauN ki bahaareN haiN magar tum to nahiN    1.pleasure
How can qamar enjoy full-moon nights even if there is a blossoming of stars all around. The beloved will never come during moonlit nights.
10
khili¹ chaandni jagmagaate sitaare
qamar aisi raateN bhi Khaali gayii haiN    1.blossoming, spreading
Moonlight spread all around, twinkling stars … O qamar, even such nights have gone to waste.