My Return To Poetry Brings Incredible Love For The Works Of Faiz Ahmed Faiz

It's been quite a while since i actually posted anything here, rather this has become sort of a photo-log since i hooked up Instagram with Posterous. Anyhow, today, being in the melancholy mood I am, i'm walking down all the roads of the past that i have skipped for a long time. 

The most important of which is poetry, and who best to study when you gain interest in something once again, than the great Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

The works of Faiz Ahmed Faiz speak for themselves, so much so that a person like me, having no specified knowledge of this genre whatsoever, has no right to actually give a critique on those pieces of poetry.

So among my favourites, is Aaj Bazar Mein Pa Bajolan Chao, text and translation of which is given below. (via Jahane Rumi)

 

Aaj bazaar main pa ba jolan chalo

aaj bazaar main pa bajolan chalo
let us walk in bazaar in shackles

Chashm-e-nam, jaan-e-shoreeda kafi nahin
wet eyes and restless soul is not enough

Tohmat-e-ishq-posheeda kafi nahin
being charged for nurturing concealed love is not enough

aaj bazaar main pa-bajolan chalo
let us walk in bazaar in shackles

Dast afshan chalo, mast-o-raqsan chalo
let us go with afshan in hand, in trance and dancing

Khak bar sar chalo, khoon badaman chalo
go with dust on head and blood on garb

Rah takta hai sub shehr-e-janaan chalo
Go as the city of my beloved is waiting

Hakim-e-shehr bhi, majma-e-aam bhi
City’s ruler and crowd of commoners

Teer-e-ilzam bhi, sang-e-dushnam bhi
arrow of false charge, stone of accusation

Subh-e-nashaad bhi, roz-e-naakaam bhi
morning of sorrow, day of failure

Unka dum-saaz apnay siwa kaun hai
who is their friend except me

Shehr-e-janaan main ab baa-sifa kaun hai
who is untainted in the city of beloved

Dast-e-qatil kay shayan raha kaun hai
who deserve the killers or executioners hand

Rakht-e-dil bandh lo, dil figaro chalo
get ready for the journey of heart, go wounded heart

Phir hameen qatl ho aain yaro chalo
let me go to be executed

The immense love for this piece, can not penned down in mere words.

Have a look for yourself, at Faiz Ahmed Faiz reciting this as well as Nayyara Noor adding colour to it with her serenading voice.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ara199ZUiKQfeature=embedded]