Unke Dar Pe Pahunchne To Paayein
Yeh Na Poocho Ke Hum Kya Kareinge
Sar Jhukana Agar Jurm Hoga
Ham Nigahon Se Sajda Kareinge

Once I reach the door
Spare me from asking what I will do
If blasphemous it is to prostrate my body
My gaze shall bow at the door

Baat Bhi Teri Rakhni Hai Saqi
Zarf Ko Bhi Na Ruswa Kareinge
Jaam De Ya Na De Aaj Hum Toh
Maikade Mein Sawera Kareinge

I am to keep your words too, O' Cup Bearer
And I cannot offend the cup
Whether or not you serve me tonight
I will meet my dawn at your door

Iss Taraf Apna Daman Jalega
Uss Taraf Unki Mehfil Chalegi
Hum Andhere Ko Ghar Mein Bulaakar
Unke Ghar Mein Ujaala Kareinge

Here, my life will be on fire
And there celebrations will begin at yours
I willingly invite the darkness to my abode
So that brightness may exist at yours

Baat Tarq-e talluq Bhi 'Anwar'
Itna Ehsaa- e-Rasm-e-Wafa Hai
Aakhiri Saans Tak Bhi Hum Unse
Berukhi Ka Na Shikwa Kareinge*

Even after renouncing our relationship O’ Anwar
I am to maintain the ritual of faithfulness
Even unto the last breath
Never will I complain of aloofness

— Translated by Jamil Hussain, Sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Jab Raat Dhali Aadhi Maikhane Ko Hosh Aaya
Angrai Li Botal Ne Paimane Ko Hosh Aaya

When the night cast halfway, tavern came to its senses
The bottle took a yawn and the cup came to its senses

Utha Jo Naqaab Unka Deewane Ko Hosh Aaya
Jab Shamma Howi Roshan Parwane Ko Hosh Aaya

They appeared from their veil, crazy came to their senses
Then the flame became evident and the moth came to its senses

Phir Dard Utha Dil Mein Phir Yaad Teri Aayi
Phir Teri Mohabbat Ke Afsanay Ko Hosh Aaya

Then the pain grew within, your memories unfolded
And then your affectionate tale came to my senses

In Mast Nigahon Ne Girtay Ko Sambhala Hai
Sagar Ke Saharay Se Mastanay Ko Hosh Aaya

Intoxicating glances have balanced the tumbling
With the support of a cup, the drunk came to their senses

Woh Daikho Fana Daikho Jaam Aa Gaye Gardish Mein
Woh Mast Nazar Uthi Maikhane Ko Hosh Aaya*

Look there O’ Fana, see the cups are quickly rotating
Emergence of intoxicating glance; tavern has now come to its senses

— Translated by Jamil Hussain, Poet Anwar Farrukhabadi, Sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

‘Flew back some of Crows to me
I helped them fly once far away,
For not to stay and eat me up!
Again and over again …

‘I tried so hard and fast I could
To stay away from Crows so black,
But no way there for me to escape
Walls and walls so high …

‘Wind of return from true to lie
Can’t deny the strongest touch,
Pleasure of surfing into the blue
Still fly there crud black Crows …

‘Black Crows chase me all the way
From dawn till dusk being breathless
Sometimes I win and lose in chain,
Sea-waves rest me at shore at night …

‘Liars taught me to catch the crows
To start a series of sins afterwards
I liked first then I came to know
Crows do deal with Lucifer’s choice …

‘Knew I was going through darkness
Just keeping faith to get a light,
At last I found there not a ray
Al least to find a way back home …

‘Home for me and home for you
Found but lost by misfortune,
So far as I try to regain,
Black Crows bar me from doing so …

‘Always tasty are forbidden fruits
Like grass is greener on other side,
Sense of reasons makes no change
You keep loving being captive …

‘So never ever catch Black Crows
must it leave you in tunnel so dark,
Even after you could find way out
You may lose your grace back there …

‘You yourself are a real touch-stone
To culture yourself among people,
Sounded bitter, should have been sweet
Wrong estimate just let you down …

‘I had two eyes but never saw
The pain emerged in parents hearts,
Watching me in black Crow’s ******,
I was blind but I’ve realized now …

‘Wasted time’s now wasting me
Surely need to **** the crows,
And not to help them fly again
I wish myself to walk alive …

‘A lesson here goes to all fellows
To cure the wounds, not to endure,
The Crows will die forever too
Eyeful of ever blue sky, up there …


~ Anwar Parvez Shishir ~
05/DECEMBER/2013/THURSDAY
Jessore/Dhaka/Bangladesh