Home | October '99 Index

Date: 10-Nov-99
Poet: Himayat Ali Shaayar

I recently attended a 'mushaira' in Orange County, California. 
I had the good fortune to listen to Himayat Ali 'Shaayar' at the
mushaira. Here is an old poem that he recited there by special 
request. It is interesting to note the structure of the poem. 
Though it comprises of two line couplets, it is not a Gazal.


is baar vo milaa to ajiib us kaa r.ang thaa
alfaaz me.n tara.ng na lahajaa daba.ng tha

[alfaaz = words (plural of lafz); lahajaa = manner]

ek soch thii ki bikharii hu_ii Khaal-o-Khad me.n thii
ek dard thaa ki jis kaa shahiid a.ng-a.ng thaa

[Khaal-o-Khad = body]

ek aag thii ki raakh me.n poshidaa thii kahii.n
ek jism thaa ki ruuh se masaruuf-e-ja.ng thaa

[poshiidaa = hidden; masaruuf = busy in/involved with]

mai.n ne kahaa ki yaar tumhe.n kyaa huaa hai ye
us ne kahaa ki umr-e-ravaa.N kii ataa hai ye

[umr-e-ravaa.N = life in passing; ataa = gift]

mai.n ne kahaa ki umr-e-ravaa.N to sabhii kii hai
us ne kahaa ki fikr-o-nazar kii ataa hai ye

mai.n ne kahaa ki sochataa rahata to mai.n bhii huu.N
us ne kahaa ki aa_iinaa rakhaa huaa hai ye

dekhaa to meraa apanaa hii aks-e-jamaal thaa vo
vo mai.n thaa aur "Himayat Ali" thaa vo