There is this thing about being,
a fragile song that we all sing.
And then darkness comes beckoning,
for death is certain for all those living.
Here I have a request sincere,
when you are alone you must not fear.
So even when I am gone, my dear,
just look around and you will find me near.
You’ll find me in the pages that I write,
and in the poems that I recite.
In the sunshine bright,
and in the moonbeam at night.
It is possible that once in a while,
you will miss me halfway through a mile.
But you must then think of me with a smile
and my life would be worthwhile.
कुछ नज़र नहीं आता
बहुत धुंद है, ठंड़ है, कोहरा है यहाँ
रास्ता तो दिखता है
मगर क्या यहीं मुझे चलना है?
आगे बढ़ना है? या ठहर जाना है?
क्या कोई पगडंडी कहीं जुड़ती है?
या कोई राह निकलती है कहीं?
बहुत धुंद है, ठंड़ है, कोहरा है यहाँ
कुछ भी नज़र नहीं आता
मेरी मंज़िल कहाँ है?
है भी या नहीं?
जो मैने देखी थी
क्या वो थी एक मरीचिका?
क्या मेरी लालसा अनंत है?
मेरा गंतव्य है कोई?
या इन धुंद भरी अकेली राहों पर
यूँ ही भटकना है मुझे
मगर…
कब तक?
कहाँ तक?
कुछ भी तो नज़र नहीं आता!
This ghazal of Faiz Ahmed Faiz is beyond translation but I am attempting it nevertheless. The poem is a statement of politics and struggle of his times.
न गवाओं नावके-नीमकश, दिले रेज़ा रेज़ा गवाँ दिया
जो बचे हैं संग समेट लो, तने दाग़ दाग़ लुटा दिया
मेरे चारगर को नवेद हो सफे दुशमनों को खबर करो
जो वो कर्ज़ रखते थे जान पर वो हिसाब आज चका दिया
करो कज़ ज़बीं पे सरे कफन मेरे कातिलों को गुमां न हो
कि गुरूरे इश्क का बाँकपन पसे मर्ग हमने भुला दिया
उधर एक हर्फ की कुश्तनी यहाँ लाख उज्र था गुफ्तनी
जो कहा तो सुनके उड़ा दिया जो लिखा तो पढ़ के मिटा दिया
जो रुके तो कोहे गराँ थे हम जो चले तो जाँ से गुज़र गये
रहे यार हमने कदम कदम तुझे याद ग़ार बना दिया
-फैज़ अहमद फैज़
Why waste your half-drawn arrows? My broken heart is already in pieces
save the leftover stones; my body is already wasted with innumerable bruises
Inform my healer, go to the army of my enemies, and say
he whose soul was indebted has settled all his debt today
Keep the shroud on my head today, my murders should not have any misgivings
that I forgot the pride of being in love on my way to death (or after death)
They had just one word, and I had lakhs to explain as excuses (of my deeds)
When I told (you) did not pay attention, when I wrote, (you) read and erased them
When I stopped, I was a like a mountain, when I walked, I walked past life itself
Every step of the path I tread I have made a memorial of my beloved.
This is a poem by Maya Angelou that I *had* to record on my blog. Rarely does one gets to read expressions like these.
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
घुंघरू के मध्यम बोलों ने
कुछ कहा फुसफुसाकर
गुनगुनाकर फिर होठों ने
हौले हौले माहौल बनाया
और तुम्हारी आँखों की गहराइयों में
मैने अपने आप को
डूबते, उतराते, मदमाते पाया
जाने कब हुयी सुबह
सूर्य किरण ने घटाओं से झांक कर देखा
घुंघरू के बोलों का तीव्रतर हो थम जाना
होठों पर छिडे तरानों का कंठ ही में घुल जाना
आँखों की विशाल गहराई का
पलकों के भीतर छुप जाना
और टूटना एक स्वपन का
