"shai" poems
*Main Talkhi-e-Hayat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya
Gham Ki Siyah Raat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya*
**With the worry from bitterness of life, I drank
With the grief of my darkest night, I drank**
*Itni Daqiq Shai Koi Kaise Samajh Sake
Yazdan Ke Vaqiat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya*
**Such delicate substance, how can one comprehend?
With the fear of merciful moment, I drank**
*Chhalke Hue The Jaam Pareshan Thi Zulf-e-Yaar
Kuchh Aise Hadsat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya*
**Overflowing cups and beloved’s anxious tresses
With the concern for such calamities, I drank**
*Main Aadmi Huun Koi Farishta Nahi Huzur
Main Aaj Apni Zaat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya*
**Human I am and no angel O’ respected
Today, with the vigilance of my own being, I drank**
*Duniya-e-Hadsat Hai Ik Dardnak Giit
Duniya-e-Hadsat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya*
**World of incidents is an agonising song
With the discomfort of this world of incidents, I drank**
*Kante To Khair Kante Hain Is Ka Gila Hi Kya
Phulon Ki Vardat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya*
**Thorns are yet thorns and there is no complaint
With the scare from crimes of flowers, I drank**
*Saghar Vo Kah Rahe The Ki Pi Lijiye Huzur
Un Ki Guzarishat Se Ghabra Ke Pi Gaya*
**Saghar they said drink O’ respected
And with the care for their wishes, I drank**
— Translated by Jamil Hussain, Poet Saghar Siddiqui, Sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Oct 26, 2016
Oct 26, 2016 at 6:08 AM UTC
Hasti Pe Nikhaar Aa Jata Hai
Jis Waqt Woh Saamne Hote Hain
Life is made to bloom
When they manifest before us
Har Shai Pe Khumaar Aa Jata Hai
Jis Waqt Woh Saamne Hote Hain
Existence is covered in intoxication
When they manifest before us
Parwane Ki Halat Kya Kahiye
Parwana Hai Aakhir Parwana
Of moth’s state what could you say
Moth is yet still a moth
Shamma Ko Bhi Pyar Aa Jata Hai
Jis Waqt Woh Saamne Hote Hain
Even the lamp immerses in love
When they manifest before us
— Translated by Jamil Hussain, Sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Jun 6, 2017
Jun 6, 2017 at 7:15 AM UTC
tire siine meñ dam hai dil nahīñ hai
tirā dam garmi-e-mahfil nahīñ hai
Ambition rests within your chest but not a heart
Your wheedling, warmth of assembly is not nor its art
guzar jā aql se aage ki ye nuur
charāġh-e-rāh hai manzil nahīñ hai!
Go beyond paths of reason in quest of light
Lamp of the way it is but not a destination
ḳhirad ke paas ḳhabar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
tirā ilaaj nazar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
Intellect has news and nothing more
A divine glance is your cure and nothing more
har ik maqām se aage maqām hai terā
hayāt zauq-e-safar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
Beyond all ranks is your prestige
Life is a delightful journey and nothing more
ragoñ meñ gardish-e-ḳhūñ hai agar to kyā hāsil
hayāt soz-e-jigar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
If veins have flowing blood, then what is the reward?
An existence with a burning heart and nothing more
jise kasād samajhte haiñ tājirān-e-farañg
vo shai mata-e-hunar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
What traders of the West consider as synthetic?
These are entities of flawless craft and nothing more
urūs-e-lāla munāsib nahīñ hai mujh se hijāb
ki maiñ nasīm-e-sahar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
Bride like a radiant tulip, why modesty from me?
Morning breeze I am and nothing more
baḌā karīm hai 'iqbāl'-e-be-navā lekin
atā-e-shola sharar ke sivā kuchh aur nahīñ
Very gracious is voiceless Iqbal and yet
A gifted flame with sparks of fire and nothing more
✒ Translated by ℐamil Hussain
Words of Muhammad Iqbal
Apr 6, 2022
Apr 6, 2022 at 7:17 PM UTC
We are all worm-riders.
You don't believe me?
Just look to the desert around you,
the shifting dunes, the buried ruins of cities,
the pockets of sedition against the man
(even though we are the man)
*Call for air support, we have worm-sign
(10 minutes)*
We are sand-trout children,
born of the worm,
reaching maturity to place our thumper.
(7 minutes)
We have known this from the beginning
but have forgotten how to remember.
*(4 minutes)
(PLEASE HURRY!)*
The proof is everywhere,
all across the internet,
the pictures of my extreme youth:
money shots,
universal *******
***** from a ************
(no more minutes)
Oct 26, 2013
Oct 26, 2013 at 6:38 PM UTC
I cannot perceive my past,
Neither can I behold my future,
Yet my heart will go on,
The native doctor has cast
An evil spell on my gun,
Causing poverty to become
My greatest confidant,
Yet my love will go on,
She has left me
For the energetic farmer,
Indeed, he who has corn
Has no problem owning fowls,
Yet my heart will go on,
Nature has frown
Her face in darkness,
Whiles the sky is
Weeping in tears of dim stars,
Yet my love will go on,
My dead palm nut tree has
Decided not to reproduce
Tasty palm wine any longer,
Knowing very well that
My gourd is extremely thirsty,
Yet my heart will go on,
Life has been cruel
To my youthful teeth,
Having no pity for
My taste and sight,
Yet my love will go on,
The cruel Gods have brought
A great calamity on my land,
Causing my rain drop to
Hold its peace indefinitely,
Yet my heart will go on,
The Aburi mountains are
Lying flat on their bellies
Whiles the Shai hills are
Looking ghastly at my pains
Yet my love for Frimpomaa
Will forever go on.
© PRINCE NANA ANIN-AGYEI
Email: [email protected]
Apr 8, 2013
Apr 8, 2013 at 6:56 AM UTC
i feel like i am
hanging merely on eggshells
cracking at my feet
yellow yokes like the sun
dance crazily at the scene
a mixture asunder
the painful outsides
like shards of glass in my fingers
tear me apart
i feel like i am
walking on eggshells till i fall
into arms unknown
(shai)
Oct 23, 2018
Oct 23, 2018 at 8:55 PM UTC
shot after shot
i let myself
slip from reality
as i traded shotglasses
into trips down
to the local liquor store
liquid happiness
turned into liquid sadness
as i wondered if
i could feel such tranquilities
ever again
i used my
liquid sins
to build houses
of velvet in my head
i thought i could
make the little
fires of pain
just go away
i strolled down
the streets of memory
hoping i could find
solace before the daybreak
the adrenaline rush
seemed to be all i needed
just a little something
to feel nothing....
(shai)
Nov 19, 2018
Nov 19, 2018 at 7:40 PM UTC
Tum se yeh mohabbat ka jo shewa Maine pehna hai
Ab kya kahun ke kafan ka kapda Maine pehna hai
Har shai mein teri yaadon ka sehra maine pehna hai
Kaanton se jo bana hai woh zewar Maine pehna hai
pal bhar ka wasl phir wada e hijr maine pehna hai
Anjaam e ishq ka yeh naya tamgha Maine pehna hai
Wafa ke ghar jafa ka yeh keechad maine pehna hai
Ilzaamon ke rangon ka ek saaya maine pehna hai...
Kya kahun Ae Ain ishq mein kya kya Maine pehna hai
Haya ko karke tark libaas e behaya pehna hai...
Sep 9, 2020
Sep 9, 2020 at 7:27 AM UTC