Category: Poetry

Posted in Poetry

Maikash I Urdu | Poetry

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Andhero me doobi thi jinki shaame,

Surkh seher ka intezar karte hain;

Samandar ne pyasa chhoda jin maikash ko,

Teri ek nazar ka intezar karte hain.

.

Saaki koste h husn wale ko,

Baadakash ishare pe jaam chhodte hain,

Dilbar, khol de ye darwaze,

Teri dahleez pe sare aam dum todte hain.

.

Teri inayat deewane par ho jaye;

Ek pal deedar mayassar ho jaye;

Mar k hi uthega gar ye naqab,

Hum kehte h muqarrar ho jaye.

Translation

Those who lived in the darkest night

Await dawn’s first light,

Thirst that a sea could not drown

Awaits your eyes to alight.

.

Cup bearers hate your lure;

On your cue, the drunk left his cup behind,

Love, open your door;

Dying at your doorway for the world to deride.

.

A favour he begs, besotted as is he,

To see you just a moment for;

If only death can take off your veil;

Ready to die forever more.

Context:

Hidden behind veil, muslim women have long inspired Urdu Poetry–lover’s first sight being worth more than one’s life.

Overtly, Urdu poets consider Allah as the most beautiful love, hidden behind the veil that will be lifted only after death, making death not an ending but a beginning of forever instead.

Posted in Poetry

Parda | Urdu | Poetry

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Parda hilne ki aahat se jhoomte hain,

Uske wujood se behtar koi nasha nahi.

Translation:

Drunk at the sound of curtains stirring,

No wine tastes better than the hope you exist.

Context: Urdu poetry stems from a culture where shyness is the greatest virtue of a woman. Here stirring curtains stand for a shy beloved hiding just out of sight.

Posted in Poetry, Random Thoughts

Nazar | Urdu | Poetry

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Mere mehboob ki nazaro se bach ke rehna,

Wo janta hai dil kaha chhupa rakha hai.

Uski palko ke uthne aur girne ke beech;

Deewano ne afsana bana rakha hai.

Translation:

Beware of the eyes

of my beloved who

will find your heart

no matter where it hides.

Tales of love are told

mid the moment

she gazes at you

till she drops her eyes.

Context:

Urdu poetry developed in a culture where women did not speak to unrelated men at all. Poets have filled countless pages describing the language of eyes that existed between lovers; how just raising gaze to look at one could incite a love story told and retold around the fire.

Posted in Poetry, Random Thoughts

Nadaan | Urdu poetry

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Naadan sanam ki masoomiyat se haar jate hain.

Salaam kar ke milte hain, seena chaak kar ke jate hain.

Translated into a Lantern poetry

Naive

Stony heart;

Blessed my life;

And left, ripping me

apart!

Context: This piece points out the irony of “Salam” as greeting between parting lovers (a blessing for a long life).

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 Poetry

Mooning

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Midnight. At the windowsill,

Moon reminds me.

Sprinkling silver pixie dust,

Lighting up the path

For Words to find me.

…

Sleep spreads its blanket

On the neighbouring bed.

Enraged Jealousy urges me

To shake awake

The Sleepyhead.

…

Muse nudges the

Story hiding within.

Spying the pen, she retreats,

Fearful of the ever-

judging Punctuation.

…

Sleep warns Desperation–

Inching towards her patrons

to seek help.

Sense prevails.

Who wants grumbly audience?

…

Responsibility cautions

To wait for the first light.

Unacceptable though,

I watch Moon sitting on the windowsill,

Sprinkling moonlight.

Author’s note: I have not learnt writing poetry, but I dabble with it sometimes.

  • I have tried a 1-2, 1-2-3 dancing style here.
  • Personification is meant to build a crowd on an otherwise quiet, lonely night.
  • I have also tried shape-writing to bring a sense of repetition where you return from where you start.

Please let me know which part of it worked and what sucked. :)

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.