Two poems by Faiz Ahmed Faiz

[shiftingoutlines]

Faiz Ahmed Faiz was an Urdu poet (Indian and then Pakistani). A leading member of the Progressive Writer’s Association in the pre-Independence days, he regarded poetry as a vehicle of ‘serious thought’, publically denouncing ‘art for art's sake’ arguments in the debate raged on in the literary circles of the subcontinent then. Faiz gave a new spin to the familiar imagery of a love-poet.

 

I post here two short excerpts from his verses. I could not find image files so I am posting tranliterations for now. I will upload the Urdu version if I am able to find scripts I know how to use. Pointers to less grittier translations are welcome. I will upload audio files in the next couple of days though.

 

 

Seher/ Dawn

ye daag daag ujala, ye shabgazida seher

vo intezar tha jis ka, ye vo seher to nahin…

abhi charag-e-sar-e-rah ko kuchh khabar hi nahin

girani-e-shab men kami nahin aaee

nizaat-e-deed-o-dil ki ghadi nahin aaee

chale chalo ki vo manzil abhi nahin aaee

 

This blighted dawn, this darkened sun.

This is not the dawn we had waited for…

The night's burden has not diminished,

the hour of deliverance

for the eye and the heart has not yet arrived.

Face forward! For our destination is not yet in sight.

 

 

 

Mujhse Pehli Si Mohabbat/ Don’t ask me for that love we once had)

  

Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat, Mere Mehboob, Na Maang

Main Ne Samjha Tha Ke Tu Hai Tau Darakshaan Hai Hayaat

Tera Gham Hai Tau, Gham-e-Daher Ka Jhagda Kya Hai

Teri Surat Se Hai Aalam Mein Bahaaron Ko Basaa

Teri Ankhon Ke Siva Duniya Mein Rakha Kya Hai…

 

… Aur Bhi Dukh Hai Zamaane Mein Mohabbat Ke Siva

Rahatein Aur Bhi Hai Vasl Ki Rahat Ke Siva

 

Don’t ask me, my love, for that love we once had.

Then the world was gold, burnished with light, because of you

How could one weep for sorrows but the one you gave?

So what were these protests, these rumours of injustice?

A glimpse of your face was evidence of springtime.

Wherever I looked, all I could see were your eyes…

 

…There are other sorrows in this world and comforts, other than love.

Don’t ask me, my love, for that love we once had.