Carve me out into mould of yours O love!

The following qawwali by Ameer Khusro has an almost haunting feel to it, or perhaps the way Shafqat Amanat Ali's vocals have rendered it that 'soze' has added to that magical effect. I am not into Khusro's poetry. At times despite grasping the concept, the idea of lover and beloved as he presents, becomes too knotty for me.

However, I just fell for this one. The yearning, the longing, the desire is so strong, so potent that it hardly leaves any margin for not falling a prey to those gutsy torrents of love showering down upon one's entire being.

Translating it was the closest thing I felt I could do to immerse in those blinding showers of intoxicating pure love. I so wish I could do better with this for this deserves to be treated so.

Mohay apnay hi rung mein rung lay,

Tu to saaheb mera Mehboob-e-Ilaahi;

Mohay apnay hi rung mein……

Humri chundariya, piyaa ki pagariya,

Woh to donon basanti rung day;

Tu to saaheb mera …….

Jo kuch mangay rung ki rungaai,

Mora joban girvi rakhlay;

Tu to saaheb mera…….

Aan pari darbaar tehaaray,

Mori laaj saram sab rakh lay;

Tu to saaheb mera Mehboob-e-Ilaahi,

Mohay apnay hi rung mein rung lay.

Tone me into a glow of thine

Thee my sir, are Allah's beloved

Dye me into a cast of thine

My scarf and the love's turban

Let both be flushed with the tint of spring

Thee my lord, are Allah's beloved

Whatever it may cost infusing the color

Loan it against all this bloom of mine

Thee my knight, are Allah's beloved

(now that) I have rolled in at thine court

Thou I ask to keep my honor and esteem

Thee my man, are Allah's beloved

Adorn me with that value of thine

Lyrics: Ameer Khusro
Inapt translation: mine
Image Courtesy: learningguidenetwork.com