Urdu Poetry

Woh Jaa Chukaa Hai

Tue, 21 Feb 2006 23:58:26 -0500

Parveen Shakir is one of the most popular Urdu poets of modern times. Shakir achieved fame while still a student of English literature at the University of Karachi. EGO Editor Asad Khan translates two of Parveen Shakir's poems.

Woh jaa chukaa hai
Magar judaai se qabl kaa
Ek narm lamha
Thehar gayaa hai
He is gone.
But a tender moment,
from when he was here
is stuck;

Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 02:00:59 -0500

Main aur meri tanhaai aksar yeh baatein karte hain
Tum hoti to kaisa hota,
tum yeh kehti, tum voh kehti
Tum is baat pe hairaan hoti, tum us baat pe kitni hansti
Tum hoti to aisa hota, tum hoti to vaisa hota
My solitude and I often speak to each other of this
How it would have been if you had been here
You would have said this, you would have commented on that
This would have surprised you, that would have made you laugh
It would have been this way, it would have been that way
If you had been here

Ye Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 19:18:07 -0500

Saqi Ki Har Nigah Pay Bal Kha K P Gaya
Lehroon Say Khailta Hoa Lehra K P Gaya
Dancing to every look of the wine-giver, I drank
Playing with the waves, I drank

Ey Rehmat-E-Tamaam Meri Har Khata Muaf
Mein Intiha-E-Shouq (Mein) Say Ghabra K P Gaya
O Lord, forgive my sins
That I was afraid, but still with great pleasure, I drank

Ab Ke Ham Bichha.de

Tue, 10 Jan 2006 17:49:34 -0500

By Ahmed Faraz

ab ke ham bichha.de to shaayad kabhii khvaabo.n me.n mile.n
jis tarah suukhe hue phuul kitaabo.n me.n mile.n
If now these feelings we cover, perhaps in dreams shall we meet
As dried flowers are chanced upon pressed softly in books

Teri Bataain Hi Sunanay Aa'e

Fri, 02 Dec 2005 15:24:38 -0500

Ahmad Faraz's lovely poem describing the sweet hesitant waiting of the attending lover.

teri bataain hi sunanay aa'e
dost bhi dil hi dokhanay aa'e
just to narrate your stories did i come
just to hurt my heart did you, my friend, come

phool khilte hein tu hum sochtae hein
teray aanay ke zamaanay aa'e
when flowers bloom, i find myself thinking
the season of your arrival has come

Is Se Pahale Ke

Tue, 15 Nov 2005 15:55:34 -0500

Ahmed Faraz (January 14, 1931 in Nawshahra - ) is considered one of the great modern Urdu poets. He was jailed, and later exiled, during the Zia-ul Haq regime, for writing poems against the military government. He stayed for three years in Britain, Canada and Europe before returning to Pakistan.

Maintaining a tradition established by his mentor, the revolutionary Faiz, he wrote some of his best poetry during those days in exile.

is se pahale ke bevafaa ho jaaye.n
before that day we become disloyal
kyo.n na ai dost ham judaa ho jaaye.n
why not, my friend, go our separate ways

Badan Me.n Aag Sii

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 08:12:55 -0500

Tuu Paas Bhii

Sun, 06 Nov 2005 11:28:22 -0500

Bahar Aayee

Wed, 19 Oct 2005 17:05:58 -0500

The incomparable Faiz Ahmed Faiz (1914-1984) wrote Bahar Aayee, a poem lamenting the memories of lost love that return with spring.

Bahar aayee
Spring has come
to jaisey yak baar laut aaye hain phir adum se
So have returned suddenly from the past
woh khaab sarey, shabaab sarey
All those dreams, all that beauty
jo terey honton pe mar mittey they
That on your lips had died
jo mit ke har baar phir jiye they
That had died and lived again each time

Ye Na Thee Hamaree Qismat

Tue, 18 Oct 2005 18:07:18 -0500

Dasht-e-Tanhai

Mon, 17 Oct 2005 18:29:19 -0500

Ishq Mujko Nahin

Sat, 15 Oct 2005 23:02:50 -0500

Hum Dekhain Gay

Sat, 15 Oct 2005 22:26:22 -0500

Allah Huu

Fri, 14 Oct 2005 23:34:24 -0500

Ranjish Hi Sahi

Thu, 13 Oct 2005 08:24:45 -0500

Ahmed Faraz (b. 1931 ) is considered one of the great modern Urdu poets. Ayesha Kaljuvee translates Faraz's Ranjish Hi Sahi

Ranjish hi sahi

Let it be anguish

dil hi dukhaanay kay liyay aa

Come still to torment my heart