Talaash-e-harf, Khayal-e-Faiz

More often than not all of us let our worlds revolve around activities that are related to the outside sphere, rather than concentrating upon the one that matters to the universe that exists within.
Unfortunately, whatever we find happening, happens in the EXTERNAL orbits, away from the electric field of the nucleus that is responsible to keep us charged. This just serves to dissociate us farther from our inner self. The happenings serve as the magical potion, the entrancing tranquilizer, which take us away from the turmoils of the self; far far away into a land of forgetful bliss, an island of beautiful sunrises and enchangting eves. The intoxicating rush of breaking away from the reality is so potent that like a speedy car of a drunken driver, it makes us loose our sense of direction and we dive straight into the realm of artificiality that we fondly call "the happening world".

However, the hangover of this treacherous lovemaking with the diva la-di-da leaves one battered like the Titanic. Then all what is left for the self to gloat in consists of a void so deepening that it swallows every thought into the black hole at its pit; words are  rendered speechless and fancy rotting to nothingness. All that is left is an echoing silence!

Aaj ek harf ko phir dhoondta phirta hai khayal
Madh bhara harf koi, zeher bhara harf koi

Dil-nashin harf koi, qeher bhara harf koi
Aaj ek harf ko phir dhoondta phirta hai khayal...

Today again my fancy seeks a word to soar
An intoxicating word,  a word brimming of venom
A word that bewitches, a word that is barbed
Today again my fancy seeks a word to soar...

Harf-e-ulfat koi dildar-e-nazar ho jaise

Jis’se milti hai nazar bosa-e-lab ki surat
Itna roshan ke sare-mauja-e-zar ho jaise
Sohbat-e-yaar main aghaaz-e-tarab ki surat
Harf-e-nafrat koi shamsheer-e-ghazab ho jaise,
Aaj ek harf ko phir dhoondta phirta hai khayal...

A word of desire like the enchanting beloved herself

Whose glance greets like a kiss on the lips

As radiant as the wavelet of a sea of gold

Like the hum of a ballad in the company of a lover

A word of spite that wounds like a vengeful sword

Today again my fancy seeks a word to soar...

Ta abad shahre-sitam jis’se tabah ho jayein

Itna tareeq ke shamshan ki shab ho jaise
Lab pe laoon to mere honth siyah ho jayein
Aaj ek harf ko phir dhoondta phirta hai khayal...

A word so potent to consume the rancor forever

A word so dark as the eve of a charnel

A word when uttered,  leaves my lips charred

Today again my fancy seeks a word to soar...

Poet: Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Inapt translation: mine

Image Courtesy: Photograph by Roberto Grilli