I died for beauty

I died for beauty, but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for truth was lain
In an adjoining room.

He questioned softly why I failed?
"For beauty," I replied.
"And I for truth, -the two are one;
We brethren are," he said.

And so, as kinsmen met a night,
We talked between the rooms,
Until the moss had reached our lips,
And covered up our names.

-- Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

That Shapes the Eye

That Shapes the Eye

Children
Can easily open the
Drawer

That lets the spirit rise up and wear
Its favorite costume of
Mirth and laughter.

When the mind is consumed with
Remembrance of
Him (Allah)

Something divine happens to the
Heart

That
Shapes the hand and tongue
And eye into
The word
Love.

-- Hafiz
(translations by Daniel Ladinsky)

‘Tis my heart, not brick, nor stone / Dil Hi To Hai Na Sang-o-Khist

‘Tis my heart, not brick, nor stone
Weeps like others; don’t you know?
It will cry, a thousand times
Why, do you, torture it so?

At temples, mosques, nor at his door
Not even, on, my beloved’s porch
I wait, along a distant road
Why do others, ask me to go?

His face, its beauty, lights my heart
Brighter than, the midday’s glow
His sight, it sears, with every gaze
Why is it, he veils it so?

Your tender glance, a fatal knife
Like haughty darts, from a deadly bow
Your image is, enough for me
My self, to you, I dare not show

Life, a prison; my anguish, its chain
Filled with sorrow; both, the same
Is my wish, for death, insane?
How else, do I, remove my pain?

Beauty does agree with you
Lust - ‘tis my carnal quest m
I must control, my inner thoughts
Why have you, put me, to this test?

There; a modest dignity
Here; a show of shy respect
Can we meet, along the way?
Will he call me, to his fest?

I know, he does not, fear God
Disloyal and faithless, he maybe
The loyal, the faithful, those two
They have never, interested me

Ghalib, the wretch; when he leaves
The world, without him, will not cease
So, when he dies, no need to mourn
So, when he dies, no need to grieve


----------------------------------

Dil Hi To Hai Na Sang-o-Khist
Dard Se Bhar Na Aaaye Kyon?
Royenge Hum Hazaar Baar
Koyee Hamein Sataye Kyon?

Dair Nahin, Haram Nahin,
Dar Nahin, Aastan Nahin
Baithe Hain Reh-Guzar Pe Hum
Gair Hamein Uthaye Kyon?

Jab Voh Jamaal-e-Dilfaroze
Surte-Mehre Neem-Roze
Aap Hi Ho Nazaar-Soze
Parde Mein Munh Chuppaye Kyon?

Dashne-e-Gamaz Jaan-Sitan
Naavke-Naaz Bepanah
Tera Hi Akse-Rukh Sahi,
Saamne Teray Aaye Kyon?

Qaide-Hayat-O-Band-e-Gam,
Asl Mein Dono Aik Hain
Maut Say Pehlay Aadmi
Gum Say Nijaat Paye Kyon?

Husn Aur Us Pe Husn-e-Zun
Reh Gayee Bulhavas Ki Sharm
Apne Pe Eitmad Hai,
Gair Ko Aazmaye Kyon?

Van Voh Garure-Izz-o-Naaz
Yan Yeh Hijabe-Paase-Vazan
Rah Mein Hum Milain Kahan
Bazm Mein Voh Bulaye Kyon?

Han Voh Nahin Khuda Parasat
Jaao Voh Baiwafa Sahi
Jisko Ho Din-o-Dil Aziz
Uski Gali Mein Jaye Kyon?

Ghalib-e-Khasta Kay Bagair
Kaunsay Kaam Band Hain?
Roeeye Zar-Zar Kaya?
Keejiye Haye-Haye Kyon?

-- Mirza Asadullah Khan 'Ghalib'

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
----William Shakespeare (Sonnet CXVI)

Everything about her wreaks havoc, Ghalib! / bala-e-jan hai, Ghalib us ki har baat

Dil har qatra hai saz-e-an-al-bahaar
ham us ke hain, hamara puchhna kya

nigah-e be muhaba chahta hun
taghaful hai tamkin azma kya

Kiya kis ne jigar dari ka daava
shikeb-e khatir-e-ashiq bhala kya

bala-e-jan hai, Ghalib us ki har baat
ibarat kya, isharat kya, ada kya

-- [ Mirza Ghalib]

These are sonnets , every couplet (sher) makes a complete poem and whole thing some sense. For those who never heard of Ghalib, he is considered as shakespeare + Keats of Urdu.


The heart of every drop sings "I am the ocean."
what to ask of me? I belong to him (Almighty)

An uninhibited glance (from her) is what I long for
why then this indifference to test my patience

Who made the claim to be patient?
why then should there be testing of the lover's patience?

Everything about her wreaks havoc, Ghalib!
What to say of her expressions, her hinting and her coquettishness?

-- [Mirza Ghalib , translated by Sarfaraz Niazi]

I don't know why

Some things that I do, I don't know why.
Keep staring at you, I don't know why.


I shy away from you, I don't know why.


Think about you all day long, I don't know why.
Dream about you all the night, I don't know why.

I want to be dead, I don't know why.
I want to be alive, I don't know why.

.............this poem is somewhere in my head. Missing parts, I forgot to note down. Will complete when I remember it (or feel it again).

Tumbhi bolo kuch aur saqi /It's your turn to talk

Tumbhi bolo kuch aur saqi
Raat baDi hai aur baqi

Ittne khamosh kyun ho akhir
Baat koi hai zarrur saqi

Khamoshi ka sabab puuchoon
To na dek isstarah aur saqi

Tumhara dil meri amanaat tha
Kya khoaye kahin aur saqi

Aankhen banD beech samundar
Kab tak rahoge aur saqi

Kabhi aao 'sahill' ko to jaanoge
Koi apna hai ek aur baqi

Peena haram, peelana haram
Kar ghunah tuu ek aur saqi

------------------------------------

saqi = host, (sometimes used as metaphor for The-God)
baqi = remaining
sabab= reason
haram = sin

Tum mujhse duur kyun ho/ you are so far from my door

Tum mujhse duur kyun ho
Tum dil ke kareeb kyun ho

Kaise karunn justjoo tumhari
Tum itne ajeeb kyun ho

Ek khayal, ek khawab ho
Tum mera naseeb kyun ho

Tumhe mein jaanta tak nahin
Tum mere habeeb kyun ho

Tum mujhse duur kyun ho
Tum dil ke kareeb kyun ho
--------------------------------------

You are so far from my door
You are so close to my heart

Where can I search for someone like you?
In this world, there is no-one like you.

You are a thought, you are a dream,
You are my life, you are my destiny

I never met you in my life, yet
You are the best thing in my life,

You are so far from my door
You are so close to my heart


English translation is not word to word , but is more like poetic translation.

Comments are welcome,

Aao to ek baar

Talking to The-God or the beloved (use your interpretation).


Zulmat kade mein mere aao to ek baar
Charagh andhiyara mein mere jalao to ek baar

Honton pe har dam mere hai tera naam
Apne khayalon mein mujko laao to ek baar

Badi der tak rota raha 'Sahill' gham-e-zamaane ko
Banke ashk ankhon mein mere aao to ek baar

Zulmat kade mein mere / To my dark abode you come

Zulmat kade mein mere kyun aate ho baar baar
Meri maut itne kareeb kyun aate ho baar baar

Agar pooch lete to darwaaza khula paate
Meri maut ko dastak kyun dete ho baar baar

Suboh se mein bani dulhan tha tera intezaar
Meri maut aate aate kyun rukte ho baar baar

Safar-e-zindagi ki abb koi nahi hai manzil
Meri maut yun 'Sahill' pe kyun khaDe ho baar baar

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An attempt to translate to angrezi (english) literally stanza by stanza :
My death is metaphor for (beloved or The-God or life). Use you own interpretation of it.

To my dark abode you come

To my dark abode you come - why so often, so often?
My death , so close you come - why so often, so often?

If asked, you would have found door open
My death, you knock on door - why so often, so often?

Waiting for you since dawn, all dressed up like a bride
My death , you stop on your way - why so often , so often?

Journey of life has destination no more,
My death, I see you on 'Shore' -, why so often, so often?

kuch na paaoogae tum

tod ke dil kuch na paaoogae tum
wafa meri bhool na paaoogae tum

chaodke ke dar-o-dil mera aise
duur talak jaa na paaoogae tum

bharam hai tumhara so tuut jayega
akele ek din bhi jee na paaoogae tum

jab aayegi yaad meri bhooley se
ek aansu bhi rok na paaoogae tum

laout ke jab aaoogae iss gali

meri hasti ko fana paaoogae tum

tera mera saath

tera mera saath
barsaat ki ho raat
phoolon bhari saughaat
pyar ki ho baat
tera mera saath

chaand pe ho mulaqaat
baadal ki ho bisaat (carpet)
mehndi ke tere haath
sitaron ki ho raat

tera mera saath

Yaad NaHi

Khabhi Hasaata tha jo
Woh afsaana bhi yaad naH.i
Khabhi rulaata tha jo
Woh afsaana bhi yaad naH.i

BaDi duur se aaYe the
BaDi duur ko jaana tha
Dar - e - maNzil pe khaDe hain
Kahan tha jaana bhi yaad naH.i

LoG puuchTen hain haal - e - dil 'Sahill' ka
Jiss dil ko abb dhaDkna bhi yaad naHi

I wanna feel

I wanna feel
I wanna feel


I wanna feel that sweet pain
She’s gone for a moment and I
Miss her like years years and on

I wanna feel that heartbeat
On my chest , like two hearts
Competing in a marathon



I wanna feel that tender hands
On my palms, makes Chicago winter
Look so warm


I wanna feel that oneness,
So beautifully she can say
All my thoughts


I wanna feel that moment
Hurt she gets slightly, and tears
Roll down my eyes


I wanna feel that smile
On her face, makes this messy world
A place worth to live


I wanna feel that calmness
In her eyes, makes this confusion around
Look like a silent calm lake


I wanna feel
I wanna feel her

Childhood

Long gone are those days
When everyone liked me always

I used to play all day long
Night fairy came with bed-time song

Everything I saw belonged to mine
All the sand in park and also moon’s shine

On this starry night, I lay on my bed
Thinking of days gone and those ahead

Will this life be a blessed boon?
Or it will be a hot summer noon.

Will fairies live on moon again?
Or these are my dreams in vain.

Neeli Aankhen

Hogayaii hai mohabbat neeli aankhon se
Churaii hai khusBoo shrmeeli bahaaron se

Ek saDi ke baaD kissii ne
Sajaaii hai zinDagi mahekTi saaNSon se


Rakhe the gulab kuch din phele
aaTi hai khusboo unn bhuuli kitaabon se


Haasta hai ‘sahill’ iss dillagi pe
aaya nahi hai woh muDDaTTon se