آسماں حد نظر راہ گزر راہ گزر شیشۂ مے شیشۂ مے

دامِ یقین

یہ نظم اتنے بہت سے حوالوں کے ساتھ

زندگی میں گندھی ہے

کہ اب یقین ہے کہ

گر اپنی کتھا کہتے

تو منظوم اختصار

یہی ہوتا

...

:)

مرے ہمدم، مرے دوست

گر مجھے اس کا یقیں ہو مرے ہمدم، مرے دوست
گر مجھے اس کا یقیں ہو کہ ترے دل کی تھکن
تیری آنکھوں کی اداسی، ترے سینے کی جلن
میری دلجوئی، مرے پیار سے مت جائے گی
گرمرا حرفِ تسلی وہ دوا ہو جس سے
جی اٹھے پھر ترا اُجڑا ہوا بے نور دماغ
تیری پیشانی سے دھل جائیں یہ تذلیل کے داغ
تیری بیمار جوانی کو شفا ہو جائے

گر مجھے اس کا یقیں ہو مرے ہمدم، مرے دوست

روز و شب، شام و سحر میں تجھےبہلاتا رہوں
میں تجھے گیت سناتا رہوں ہلکے، شیریں،
آبشاروں کے، بہاروں کے ، چمن زاروں کے گیت
آمدِ صبح کے، مہتاب کے، سیاروں کے گیت
تجھ سے میں حسن و محبت کی حکایات کہوں
کیسے مغرور حسیناؤں کے برفاب سے جسم

گرم ہاتھوں کی حرارت سے پگھل جاتے ہیں
کیسے اک چہرے کے ٹھہرے ہوئے مانوس نقوش
دیکھتے دیکھتے یک لخت بدل جاتے ہیں
کس طرح عارضِ محبوب کا شفاف بلور
یک بیک بادہء احمر سے دہک جاتا ہے
کیسے گلچیں کے لیے جھکتی ہے خود شاخِ گلاب
کس طرح رات کا ایوان مہک جاتا ہے
یونہی گاتا رہوں، گاتا رہوں تیری خاطر
گیت بنتا رہوں، بیٹھا رہوں تیری خاطر
یہ مرے گیت ترے دکھ کا مداوا ہی نہیں
نغمہ جراح نہیں، مونس و غم خوار سہی
گیت نشتر تو نہیں، مرہمِ آزار سہی
تیرے آزار کا چارہ نہیں، نشتر کے سوا
اور یہ سفاک مسیحا مرے قبضے میں نہیں
اس جہاں کے کسی ذی روح کے قبضے میں نہیں

ہاں مگر تیرے سوا، تیرے سوا، تیرے سوا

Sheeshon Ka Maseeha Koi Nahin

Moti ho kay sheesha, jaam, kay dur

jo toot gaya so toot gaya

Kab ashkon se jurd sakta hai

jo toot gaya, so chhoot gaya

Tum na-haq sheeshay chun chun kar

daaman mein chhupaye baithey ho

Sheeshon ka maseeha koi nahin

kya aas lagaye baithey ho

Shayad kay inhi tukrdon mein kahin

wo sagar-e-dil hai, jis mein kabhi

Sud naaz se utra karti thi

Sahba-e-gham-e-jaanaan ki pari

Phir duniya walon ne tum se

Ye sagar le kar phod diya

Jo maye thi baha di mitti mein

Mehmaan ka shah par tod diya

Ye rangeen rezay hain shayed

un shokh biloori sapnon kay

Tum mast jawani mein jin se

Khalwat ko sajaya kartey thay

naadaari, dafter, bhookh aur gham

un sapnon se takratey rahay

be-reham tha chau-mukh pathraav

yeh kaanch kay dhanchey kia kartey?

Ya shayad in zarron mein kahin

moti hai tumhari izzat ka

woh jiss se tumharey ijz pe bhi

shamshad qadon nay rashk kia

is maal ki dhun mein phirtey thay

tajer bhi bohat rehzun bhi kaee

ai chor-nagar ya muflis ki

gar jaan bachi to aan gai

ye sagar sheeshe, laal-o-guhar

saalim hon to qeemat paate hain

yun tukrde tukrde hon to faqat

chubhte hain, lahoo rulwaate hain

yaadon ke girebaanon ke rafoo

par dil ki guzar kab hoti hai ?

ik bakhiya udheyrda, ek siya

yun umr basar kab hoti hai ?

is kaar-gahey hasti mein jahan

ye sagar sheeshay dhaltey hein

har shaey ka badal mil sakta hai

sab daaman pur ho saktey hein

Jo haath bardhey yawar hai yahan

jo aankh uthhey woh bakhtawar

yaan dhan daulat ka ant nahin

hon ghaat mein daaku lakh magar

kab loot jhapat se hasti ki

dukaanein khaali hoti hein

yaan parbat parbat heerey hein

yaan saagar saagar moti hein

Kuch log hein jo is daulat par

Pardey latkatey phirtay hein

Har parbet ko, har saagar ko

Neelam chardhaatey phirtey hein

Kuchh woh bhi hein jo laRh bhiRd kar

ye pardey noch giraatay hein

Hasti kay utthai giron ki

har chaal uljhaaye jatey hein

In donon mein run pardta hai

Nit basti basti, nagar nagar

Har basti ghar ke seene mein

Har chalti rah ke maathe par

Ye kalak bhartey phirte hein

Woh jot jagate rehte hein

Ye aag lagatey phirtey hein

Woh aag bujhatay rehtey hein

Sab saagar sheeshay laal o guhar

is baazi mein bid jaate hein

Uttho sab khaali haathon ko

us run se bulaway aate hein

is kaar-gahey hasti mein jahan

ye sagar sheeshay dhaltey hein

har shaey ka badal mil sakta hai

sab daaman pur ho saktey hein :)

Ye, Who Choose

Tujh ko manzoor nahin ghalba-e zulmat lekin

Tujh ko manzoor hai yeh haath qalam ho jaen

Aur mashriq ki kameenN-gah main dharakta hua din

Raat ki aahni mayyat ke talay dab jaey

Translation:

Throne of murk you grudge against; yet

Yield to severe these hands,

Surrender to the dawn breathing softly in the womb of East 

Be entombed under the metal carcass of dusk

Verse: Faiz

Inapt Translation: mine.

Quetta: That Is You, That Is Me

Bol kay lab aazaad hain teray,

Bol zabaan ab tak teri hai,

Tera sutwaan jism hai tera,

Bol kay jaan ab tak teri hai,

Dekh kay aahan-gar ki dukaan main,

Tund hain shoalay, surkh hai aahan,

Khulnay lagay qufflon kay dahaanay,

Phela har ek zanjeer ka daaman,

Bol yeh thora waqt bohat hai,

Jism-o-zabaan ki maut se pehlay,

Bol kay sach zinda hai ab tak,

Bol jo kuch kehna hai keh le

- Faiz

Lo Jaam ultaey Detay Hain

Untitled.

Khuda wo waqt na laye kay sogawar ho tu

sukoon ki neend tujhay bhi haram ho jaye

teri musarrat-e-paiham tamam ho jaye

teri hayat tujhay talkh jam ho jaye

ghamon se aina-e-dil gudaz ho tera

Hujoom-e-yas se betaab ho ke reh jaye

wafoor-e-dard se simab ho ke reh jaye

tera shabaab faqat khwaab ho ke reh jaye

ghuroor-e-husn sarapa niyaz ho tera

taweel raton main tu bhi qarar ko tarsay

teri nigah kisi gamgusar ko tarsay

khizaan raseeda tamanna bahaar ko tarse

koi jaeen na teray sang-e-astan pe jhuke

ke jins-e-ijz-o-aqidat se tujh ko shad kare

fareb-e-wada-e-farda pe aetamad kare

Khuda wo waqt na laye ke tujh ko yad aye

wo dil ke tere liye be-qarar ab bhi hai

wo ankh jis ko tera intazar ab bhi hai

Pa Ba-Jolan Chalo

aaj bazaar main pa bajolan chalo

Chashm-e-nam, jaan-e-shoreeda kafi nahin

Tohmat-e-ishq-posheeda kafi nahin

Lets grace the ball shackled in anklets today

A dewy glance, a moiling heart suffice naught

Bearing the charge for unclaimed love counts naught

aaj bazaar main pa-bajolan chalo

Lets grace the ball shackled in anklets today

Dast afshan chalo, mast-o-raqsan chalo

Khak bar sar chalo, khoon badaman chalo

Lets march chanting victory slogans. Ecstatic. Elated...

Dirt ridden, or be blood stained, even then march along

Rah takta hai sub shehr-e-janaan chalo

Hakim-e-shehr bhi, majma-e-aam bhi

To the awaiting city of my darling, my love, lets march along!

Look, there's the monarch, the subject as well

Teer-e-ilzam bhi, sang-e-dushnam bhi

Subh-e-nashaad bhi, roz-e-naakaam bhi

The sting of the pointing finger, the hurt of the hurled insult as well

There's the dull morn, the day of loss as well

Unka dum-saaz apnay siwa kaun hai

Shehr-e-janaan main ab baa-sifa kaun hai

Dast-e-qatil kay shayan raha kaun hai

Who else could be a company, but I?

In the land of beloved, is there any who still holds the turban?

who still supports the head to deserve the axe? 

Rakht-e-dil bandh lo, dil figaro chalo

Phir hameen qatl ho aain yaro chalo

On this saunter of soul, march on ye wounded of the heart 

Let again it be I to paint the gallows red!

Poet: Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Inept translation: Mine.

Woh Butt'on Ne Daalay Hain Waswasay ...

Jo talab pe ehd-e-wafa lia, tou aabroo'ay wafa gai
Sar-e-aam jab hoay mud'aee, tou sawab-e-sidq-o-safa gaya

Kar Raha Tha Gham-e Jahan Ka Hisaab ...

Na deed hai na sukhan, ab na harf hai na payyaam

Koi bhi heela-e taskeen nahi, aur aas bohat hai

Umeed-e yaar, nazr ka mizaaj, dard ka rung 

Tum aj kuch bhi na poocho, kay dil udaas bohat hai

(Faiz)

(zaroori nahi kay) Raqeeb Say

Aa keh wabasta hain us husn ki yadain tujh say

Jis nay is dil ko pari khana bana rakha tha

Jis ki ulfat main bhula rakhi thi dunya hum nay

Deher ko deher ka afsana bana rakha tha

Aashna hain teray qadmon say wo rahain jin per

Us ki madhosh jawani nay inayat ki hai

Karwan guzray hain jin say usi ra’nai kay

Jis ki in aankhon nay bay-sodd ibadat ki hai

Tujh say kheli hain wo mehboob hawain jin main

Us kay malboos ki afsurda mehek baqi hai

Tujh pe bhi barsa hai us baam say mahtaab ka noor

Jis main beeti hui raaton ki kasak baqi hai

Tu nay dekhi hai wo peshani, wo rukhsar, wo hont

Zindagi jin kay tasawur main luta di hum nay

Tujh pe uthi hain wo khoi hui sahir aankhain

Tujh ko maloom hai kyun umr ganwa di hum nay

Hum pe mushtarka hai ehsaan-e-ghum ulfat kay

Itnay ehsaan keh ginwaoon to ginwa na sakoon

Hum nay is ishq main kia khoya hai kia seekha hai

Juz teray aur ko samjhaoon to samjha na sakoon

Aajzi seekhi, ghareebon ki himayat seekhi

Yaas-o-harmaan kay, dukh kay maani seekhay

Zair daston kay masaib ko samajhna seekha

Sard aahon kay, rukh-e-zard kay maani seekhay

Jub kaheen beth kay rotay hain wo be-kus jin kay

Ashk aankhon main bilaktay huay so jatay hain

Na tawan kay niwalon pe jhapat’tay hain uqaab

Baazo tolay huay mandlatay huay aatay hain

Jub kahi bikta hai baazar main mazdoor ka gosht

Shahrahon pe ghareebon ka lahoo behta hai

Aag si seenay main reh reh kay ubalti hai na pooch

Apnay dil pe mujhay qaboo hi nahin rehta hai

Faiz

Hum Sehl Talab Kaun Say Farhaad Thay Laikin ....

..... Ab shehr main teray koi hum sa bhi kahan hai! 
(Faiz)




On his birth centenary, some of my most favorite Faiz pieces:

and finally .....

Beauty Refining Imagination

Here you shall find a short audio clip as a pre-glimpse of an upcoming CD, in Tina Sani's voice bringing back to a second life the words of Faiz. I tried but couldn't find some means to download/ directly post the clip. And believe you me, the beauty is too irresistible to be let pass otherwise. 

It is being transcended into another dimension of time where it exhales grace, where the space is of total charm.

I have lost count of the times I have replayed the track over and over again!

Kuch pehlay in aankhon agay, kia kia na nazara guzray tha!

Kia roshan ho jati thi gali, jab yaar hamara guzray tha

Thay kitnay achay loag kay jinko apnay ghum say fursat thi

Sab poochtay thay ehwaal jo koi dard ka maara guzray tha

I can not stress it further than: it is MESMERIZING.

Kisi Dhun Ka Geet

chalo phir say muskuraaen

chalo phir say dil jalaaen

jo guzar gaee hain raatain,

unhain phir jaga kay laaen

jo bisr gaee  hain baatain,

unhain yaad main bulaaen

chalo phir say dil lagaaen, 

chalo phir say muskuraaen

kisi sheh nasheen pe jhalki 

wo dhanak kisi qaba ki

kisi rug main kasmasaee 

wo kasak kisi ada ki

koi harf e bay murawwat

kisi kunj lab say phoota

wo chhanak kay sheesha e dil, 

teh e baam phir say toota

ye milan ki na-milan ki

ye lagan ki aur jalan ki

jo sahi hain waardatain

jo guzar gaeen hain raatain

koi unki dhun banaaen

koi unka geet gaaen

chalo phir say muskuraaen

chalo phir say dil jalaaen

Faiz Ahmed Faiz

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

The longing to long for thee...

raat yun dil mein .....

A rough translation would be,


raat yun dil mein teri khoee hoi yaad aaee
jaisay veeranay mein chupkay say bahaar aa jaey


a stray thought of you caught me last night
as spring tiptoes across some wilderness


jaisay sehraoon mein holay say chalay baad e naseem
jaisay beemar ko baywaja qaraar aa jaey


like a cool breeze blowing softly in the dunes
the way an ailing gets well without any cure