Na raah h, na rehbar h, na koi sitara h.
Is raahi ko toh bas Samandar ka hi sahara h.
Jo kashti h, jo toofan h, wo hi kinara h.
No path, no rose, no north star,
I drift around, at Sea, that is too
the Boat, the Storm, the Shore afar.
Author’s note: He is the journey and the destination.
Urdu poetry is rich in duel meaning, one of which almost always divine.
You said “I do” but you didn’t,
Inception of love eternal lost in the forbidden,
Love unrequited wishes still
For chances endless until you return.
Qubool kar be hua nhi. Irshad kho gya zina me kahi.
Teri ashanai me hume fir bhi musalsal mukarrar ka hi irada h.
Author’s note: An English Quatrain (verse with four lines) translated into Urdu Sher (couplet)
Trees
ceased flowering
mourning the one
who deserted ruined garden,
in disgust.
Jinki yaad me shazar pe gulo ne ugna chood diya,
Unhi ne hikarat se sunsaan gulistaa chhod diya.
Author’s note: A Lantern (Japanese style of poetry with 1, 2, 3, 4, 1 words) translated in an Urdu sher (couplet). Mine is “nearly a Lantern” because the last line has two words.
Ab aaye ho? Mujhe dhoondhte jana.
Ek arse se kisi ki yado me gum hu.
___________
English translation:
So, you’ve finally returned? Find me before you leave again.
For ages, I’ve been lost in someone’s memories.
___________
Author’s note: Sher are couplets in Urdu that tell a complete story.
Jis samandar ki lehero me tair ke laut aaye hum,
Suna he ki log usme doob ke paar ho gaye.
_________________________________________
Translation:
The ocean that I swam in and returned from unscathed,
I’ve heard, has drowned many and let them pass.
______________________________________
Author’s note: In Urdu poetry, a Sher is a couplet, where two lines present one thought or story.
Sir jhukaye, asman ko neelam lutaate dekhta hu,
Sharm he ki hatheliya dua me khulne nahi deti.
Translation:
Head bent, I look at the sapphires falling from skies above.
Pride forces my palms in pockets, ashamed to spread heavenwards and collect.
______________________________________
Author’s note:
In Urdu poetry, a Sher is a couplet, where two lines present one thought or story.
I run another site with urdu poetry and I’m moving my work here gradually. I will translate the pieces, but not verbatim since it seems impossible without breaking the spirit of the piece.
Short Stories | Fish-eye Perspective 