Tag: Sher

Posted in Love

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 Life and After

Gard | Urdu | Sher | Poetry

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Sara jahaan jab gard me lipta hua lagne lage,

Sheeshe khidkiyo ke saaf kar lena durust hai.

Translation (Not word-by-word):

When bleak, bleary, blurred world

is blanketing in dirt

(one friend at a time),

high time someone

cleaned the windows.

Author’s note: An Urdu Sher is a couplet that deep dives into a single topic within two lines. A conventional Sher must be rhymed with specific word weight (this one is not) but it is not necessary. The theme can vary from society to love to faith and everything else under the sun.

Posted in Love

Bulbul | Sher | Poetry

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Wo shaakh sooni hai jis par bulbul gaati thi.

Tanha musafir ka koi ab sahara nhi.

Translation:

The branch sits empty–the Nightingale now gone.

No saviour now for the traveller forlorn.

Posted in Random Thoughts

Sher | Lantern: Shazar

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Sher:

Khule asmaa me main kabhi udta nahi,

Shazar wo purana agar tootata nhi.

Translation (Lantern):

When

a sheltering

tree falls, you

finally see the limitless

sky.

Author’s note:

  • Sher is a form of Urdu poetry where a couplet explains a single idea. While rhyming and a certain letter count is preferred, it is not necessary.
  • Lantern is a form of Japanese poetry where words are added in the shape of a lantern (1, 2, 3, 4, 1).
Posted in Love

Unrequited | Poetry | Sher

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

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)

Posted in Love

Mourning | Lantern | Sher

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

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.

Posted in Love

Gum (Lost)

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

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.

Posted in Random Thoughts

Samandar (The Sea): Sher

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

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.

Posted in Random Thoughts

Guroor (Pride): Sher

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

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.