Home | October '99 Index

Date: 19-Nov-99
Poet: Faiz Ahmed Faiz

ab vahii harf-e-junuu.N sab kii zubaa.N Thaharii hai 
jo bhii chal nikalii hai vo baat kahaa.N Thaharii hai 

[harf = syllable/letter; junuu.N = madness] 

aaj tak shaiKh ke ikaraam me.n jo shay thii haraam 
ab vahii dushman-e-dii.n raahat-e-jaa.N Thaharii hai 

[shaiKh = preacher; ikaraam = code/prestige] 
[dushman-e-dii.n = foe of faith/religion; raahat-e-jaa.N = joy of life] 

hai Khabar garm ke phirataa hai gurezaa.N naaseh 
guftaguu aaj sar-e-kuu-e-butaa.N Thaharii hai 

[gurezaa.N = perverse mood; guftaguu = conversation] 
[sar-e-kuu-e-butaa.N = in the lane of love (one's beloved)] 

hai vahii aariz-e-lailaa vahii shiirian kaa dahan 
nigaah-e-shauq gha.Dii bhar ko yahaa.N Thaharii hai 

[aariz = cheek; dahan = mouth/lips] 

vasl kii shab thii to kis darjaa subak guzarii hai 
hijr kii shab hai to kyaa saKht garaa.N guzarii hai 

[vasl = union; darjaa = grade; subak = delicate] 
[hijr = separation; shab = night; garaa.N = heavy] 

bikharii ek baar to haath aa_ii kab mauj-e-shamiim 
dil se nikalii hai to kab lab pe fuGaa.N Thaharii hai 

[shamiim = fragrant breeze; fuGaa.N = cry of pain] 

dast-e-sayyaad bhii aajiz hai kaf-e-gulchii.n bhii 
buu-e-gul Thaharii na bul-bul kii zabaa.N Thaharii hai 

[dast = hand; sayyaad = hunter; aajiz = helpless] 
[kaf = palm; gulchii.n = florist; buu-e-gul = flower's fragrance] 

aate aate yuu.N hii dam bhar ko rukii hogii bahaar 
jaate jaate yuu.N hii pal bhar ko Khizaa.N Thaharii hai 

[Khizaa.N = autumn] 

ham ne jo tarz-e-fuGaa.N kii hai qafas me.n ijaad 
"Faiz" gulashan me.n vo tarz-e-bayaa.N Thaharii hai 

[tarz = style; qafas = cage/prison; ijaad = invented/developed] 
[tarz-e-bayaa.N = style/mode of speech]