Koshisho me kasar na thi, faqat yaqeen be-asar tha;
Me tinke beenane gaya, wo ghonsla chhod kar gaya.
Translation
It was never for the want
Of effort–just trust;
I just left to gather straws;
He left the nest.
Tag: Urdu
Maikash I Urdu | Poetry
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.
Nazar | Urdu | Poetry
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.
Humsaya | Urdu | Poetry
Pur-yaqiin thi joh aa gayi tere jahaan me,
Is jahaan ko par mera yaqiin na hua.
Baithi hu ab waapasi ke intezar me,
Pas-e-aaina par koi mutaqiin na hua.
Translation:
Trusting, I entered your world;
Your world but did not believe me.
Wait in front of the mirror I must;
For no one trusting to pull me within.
Author’s note: Urdu poetry is usually a bit obscure, often containing meaning that isn’t on the surface. Here, the piece dwells on the concept of how everyone sees one’s outer-shell in front of the mirror, but behind the mirror, the true-self is trying to break out.
So, when a true-self manages to show herself, the world doesn’t believe her to be real, telling her that she must control herself as before. And now that she wishes to go back behind the mirror, the mirror doesn’t trust her to allow her to return.
Yakeenan | Urdu Poetry
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.
Mulaqaat | Sher | Urdu poetry
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.
Gard | Urdu | Sher | Poetry
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.
Bijli | Urdu Sher | Poetry
Bijli giri jaha par, us zakhm se barish risti hai.
Teri bewafai mere asman ka dil cheer kar gayi.
Translation:
Rains bleed from the wounds where the lightning struck;
Your betrayal tore through the heart of my sky.
Darkness | Urdu poetry
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…
Dreams | Urdu Poetry
Neend hi toh nahi aati, bas khwab hi hain.
Jo neend bhi aa jati toh mar hi na jate?!
Translation:
Can’t sleep even if I tried,
Strangled by dreams awake wide;
Had I been able to get a wink,
Probably would have died!
Short Stories 