Category: Poetry

Posted in Poetry

Yakeenan | Urdu Poetry

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Ye Waqt yakeenan meri saut hai.

Tere aane aur chale jane ke beech

Jo mauhalat hai,

Ek lamha hai;

Tere ja kar wapas aane ke darmiyan

Jo fasla hai,

Ek zindagi hai;

Tere ja kar laut ke na aane ka dar

Har pal maut hai.

Ye Waqt bazaahir meri saut hai.

Translation:

Waqt: Time

Saut: A merciless co-wife (translated as rival here since it clarifies the intent)

Time is a ruthless rival.

A second’s respite once you arrive

And then you leave.

A lifetime stretches when you leave…

.

.

.

Until you arrive.

Every moment wondering if you’ll return

To me is death.

Time is a ruthless rival.

Posted in Poetry

Mulaqaat | Sher | Urdu poetry

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Milti nahi thi ghadiya jinhe ashique se milne ke liye,

Rote hain ghanto se wahi intezar me dafeene ke liye.

…

In rukhsar ke moti kafan pe chamak chhod jayenge.

Chali ja! Zamaana haazir hai ilzam dene ke liye.

Translation:

Who couldn’t find seconds for love,

Is here crying for hours at my funeral.

…

Pearls from your cheeks will leave a sheen on my shroud.

Go away! For the world will see it and blame you aloud.

Author’s note: Sher in Urdu poetry is a couplet with a central idea that can standalone as a separate piece.

It also requires a certain word balance, somewhat like syllables in English poetry but much more complicated since each letter has its own weight. It is clearly outside my range of abilities. 😊 I just try to balance syllables where I can.

Posted in Fiction, Poetry

I’ll be along | Poetry

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Been too lost to speak;

Been too lost to quiet;

Been too long I could think of what to say besides.

…

Feels like forever;

When you were by my side,

Been too long ever since I felt the pain subside.

…

Wait for me, won’t you?

I will be along

Wait for me, won’t you?

You won’t be alone…

…

Been too far away

On the other side of the sun.

Too long since I touched the fresh earth

and didn’t feel the burn.

…

Lost in space forever,

I didn’t see until you were gone;

Now there’s nothing but to wonder

When I’ll be along…

…

Wait for me

there, my love;

I’ll be along…

Wait for me

won’t you?

I will be along…

_________________________________________________

Author’s note: Not sure where this one came up from. I am not a song writer, but I was singing it as I wrote it. I could hear my brother’s guitar in my mind, strumming a quick beat as I sang it. And for some reason, it feels like a piece of my heart.

Posted in Poetry

Begone | Poetry

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

The ever-present frigidness is now fiery warm;

The spring had come suddenly

and now, I wish it gone;

For there is no softness, no gentleness as such;

Only the passionate sun

that burns all he touch;

And makes you wish for icy winds and torrential storm.

Love is just barely here,

and now, I wish it gone.

Posted in Fiction, Poetry

Yesterday | Poetry

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

She stands in middle of the raucous party.

–

Do I dare?

No, I don’t.

Of course, I choose to live in the past.

It is the safest place to be.

There are no risks, no uncertainties–

just plain solid facts.

There are are a few regrets

but I can always shrug them off as past.

–

Do I dare?

No, I can’t.

Future is steeped in risk.

Can’t get there

without weathering some storms

or facing my demons!

Can’t strive, plan, fail…face fresh hurt–

Too full of blows from the past.

At least they didn’t manage to kill me…yet.

Can’t move on.

–

Do I dare?

No, I won’t.

I sneak a peek at her across the hall

while trying to ignore her.

She smiles in my direction.

I frown at the pain in my chest

in the hole filled with resignation.

Ah! I forgot to breath!

–

Do I dare?

Don’t I stand on the mountain of hurt

collected in years past?

Will I be able to get past?

She is looking here expectantly–

a smile playing on her mischievous lips.

–

Do I dare?

May be…

I smile back and step forward…

The past still hurts.

Well, one baby step at a time.

Posted in Poetry

Darkness | Urdu poetry

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Andhera tere dar pe nahi mere dil me tha;

Me dastak se darta raha; tu intezar karta raha.

Translation:

Standing in the darkness outside your door;

Willing it to open; fearing it would;

Craving the light escaping from the sides,

Steeling to face it; fearing I would;

Hoping to accept me; fearing I’m ruined;

Knowing you stand right beside the door,

Just waiting for me

to knock…