POETRY of FAIZ Ahmed FAIZ

[Jannah]

Faiz Ahmed Faiz (1911-1984) was the best loved Urdu poet of the period after World War II. Employing the diction, and often the meters, of an elaborate classical poetic tradition to address contemporary concerns that include his political condition, Faiz's work was widely read in Pakistan and in India from the time of its first publication. During his lifetime his reputation spread abroad and in recent years translations by the late Agha Shahid Ali and others have generated a following for the poet in the English-speaking world.

[Jannah]

    
Falak keay Daasht meain Taaroon ki Aakhirii Manzil
Kahein to Hoogaa Shab-e-Sust Mauj ka Saahil
Kahein to Jaakey Rukega Safina-e-Gham-e-Dill

Somewhere must be the star's last halting place,
Somewhere the verge of night's slow-washing tide,
somewhere an anchorage for the ship of heartache!

----

Kahaan seay Aaii Nigar-e-Sabaa Kidhaar ko Gaiey
Abhie Charaagh-e-Sar-e-Raah ko kuchh Khaabar hiey Nahien
Abhie Giraani-e-Shaab mein Kamie Naheen Aaii
Najaat-e-Diida-o-Dill kii Gharie Naheen Aaii
Chaloo Chaloo keh vo Manzil Abhii Naheen Aaii !!!

That fine morning breeze that was once felt, where has it fled?
The lamp beside the road has still no knowledge of it;
In the heaviness of night there has still come no lessening,
The hour of deliverance of eye and heart has not arrived.
Come; Come on, for that goal has still not arrived!!!



Ishq, Faiz key Nazaar mein     
     
Raat Yuun Dill Mein Terri Khoiee Huiey Yaad Aaiee,
Jaisee Viraanee mein Chupkey-sey Bahaar Aaajaey
Jaisey Sahraaoon mein Hauleey seiy Chalee Baad-e-Naseem,
Jaisey Bimaar ko Bey-Vajaah Qarrar Aaa Jaeey!


Last night your lost memmory so came into the Heart
As spring comes in the wilderness quietly,
As the zephyr moves slowly in deserts.
As rest comes without cause to a sick man!

[Jannah]

I love this, but I am no expert...can some1 translate it for all:

Yaad aateey Raheey Raat Bhaar ... Faiz

Aaap ki Yaad Aatiey Rahiey Raat Bhaar
Chaand-neey Dill Dukhateey Raheey Raat Bhaar

Gaah Jaaltey Huey, Gaah Bujhtiey Huey
Shammah-e-Gham jhelmilaatiey Raheey Raat Bhaar

Kooi Khushboo Badaltey Raheey Pairahaan
Koi Tasweer Gaatey Raheey Raat Bhaar

Phiir Sabaa Sayaah-e-Shaakh Gull keay talley
Koi Quissah Sunatey Raheey Raat Bhaar

Joo Naa Aaiyaah usseah koi Zanjeer daar
Haar Sadah par bulaateey Raheey Raat Bhaar

Eik Umeed seah Dill Behlaatah Rahaa
Aik Tammana Sataateey Raheey Raat Bhaar!!!

[Jannah]

I'm like becoming a big fan of Faiz.......... onwards reader 

Code Select Expand



Quatrain (With English Translation)

Original Urdu

Raat yunh dil mein teri khoee hui yaad aayee
Jaise veeraaney mein chupkey sey bahaar aa jaye
Jaisey sehra on mein howley se chaley baadey naseem
Jaisey beemaar ko bey wajhey Qaraar aa jaaye

English Translation

Last night, your lost memories crept into my heart
as spring arrives secretly into a barren garden
as a cool morning breeze blows slowly in a desert
as a sick person feels well, for no reason.


[Jannah]

Code Select Expand


Ghazal

I am being accused of loving you, that is all
It is not an insult, but a praise, that is all

My heart is pleased at the words of the accusers
O my dearest dear, they say your name, that is all

For what I am ridiculed, it is not a crime
My heart's useless playtime, a failed love, that is all

I haven't lost hope, but just a fight, that is all
The night of suffering lengthens, but just a night, that is all

In the hand of time is not the rolling of my fate
In the hand of time roll just the days, that is all

A day will come for sure when I will see the truth
My beautiful beloved is behind a veil, that is all

The night is young, Faiz start saying a Ghazal
A storm of emotions is raging inside, that is all


[Jannah]

Code Select Expand



Tonight, no one near me !
Far away, I see magic lands inviting
dream within a dream,
I see palaces with open doors
But no one in them.
Tonight, no one near me !

Any song, fragrance, or a beautiful face
Any promise, desire, or a passing face
Any pain, ache, doubt, or a certainty --
Nothing.
Tonight, no one near me.

And you,
with me or far away
always with me, an image of my grief.
Without you,
no one anywhere
no one at all.
Tonight, no one near me.

It's getting dark
my loneliness settled deep in my heart
but the moon makes me think of you again,
suddenly life seems pleasant and kind.

Apart from it, all I have is this,
This heartache I have had :
Sitting by a candle of the night,
waiting a lifetime
for a sunrise.


[Jannah]

Code Select Expand

These tears, this despondency is not enough
the accusation of a secret love, not enough !

Let's walk the streets, feet in irons !
Walk with chained hands,
Walk with a swagger and a swank
Walk in muddy faces, in blood-stained clothes
Let's go, not keep the streets waiting.

Powers that be are here, the people are here
accusations are here, so are their stones
this sad morning, useless day.

Who but us supports them
Who but us true to them in this belovedtown
Who but us to honor the executioner's hand ?

So get ready, my friends, let's go on
in the line of fire, let's walk on ...

FAIZ (in 'Hand Beneath a Stone'), Lahore Jail 11 February, 1959.

[Jannah]

Code Select Expand

Once Again the Mind

Today, as usual, the mind goes hunting for a word,
one filled with venom, a word
sultry with honey, heavy with love,
smashing with fury.
The word of love must be brilliant as a glance
which greets the eye like a kiss on the lips,
bright as a summer river, its surface streaming gold,
joyous as the moment when the beloved enters
for the appointed meeting.

The word of rage must be a ferocious blade
that brings down for all time the oppressor's citadel.
The word must be dark as the night of a crematorium;
if I bring it to my lips
it will blacken them forever.

Today every instrument is forsaken by its melody,
and the singer's voice goes searching for its singer.
Today the chords of every harp are shredded
like a madman's shirt. Today
the people beg each gust of wind
to bring any sound at all, even a lamentation,
even a scream of anguish,
or the last trump crying the hour of doom.

Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Interesting how translations differ
1. by Shiv K. Kumar, only Part 1:

Today again is imagination seeking a word --
some word sweet, or a word soaked in venom.
A word alluring, a word dreadful;
a word of love, enthralling as love's glance
which my eye meets, like the meeting of lips --
effulgent like the crest of a wave of gold.
A word like a prelude to to merriment in
the beloved's company,
or a word of hate, like an angry word
that could destroy all the cities of oppression
till eternity --
a word as dark as the night in a crematorium,
so dark that if uttered it may blacken the lips.


2. by Sarvat Rahman (both Parts):

Today my mind is looking for word once again,
a honey-sweet word, or a word full of venom;
An angry word, or one which in the heat will remain.
A word of affection, regard of tenderness
which, as lips receive a kiss, the eyes retain;
A shining word, surge of a golden main.
Heady beginning of joys of a lover's recess,
like the sword of vengeance, a word of disgust
that will destroy forever the citadels of the unjust.
A word obscure as night on burning grounds of the dead
so dark, it blackens the lips when said.

In our time, notes are from melodies estranged
the voice goes looking for its singer of repute
like Majnoon, who rent his clothes, by love's grief deranged.
All their strings severed, instruments are mute.
Nowadays, the people, of every breath of wind, pray
"God bless you, bring us a song, or a sound,
be it only lament for the dead, or martyr's cries,
trumpet of death's angel, rumor of the Last Day."

[Jannah]

Arise from the dust, my son
Wake up
The black night is over us
Bedecked in soft blue shawls
I have made your bed
Consecrating it with the pearls of
my tears
So many pearls
That the sky is luminous with their
splendour
The splendour of your name.
Arise from the dust, my son
Awake
The morning gold is over the rooftops
But black as night is my backyard
We have been waiting
Your comely bride
Your handsome brothers
Wake up
What was your kingdom
Is now a wasteland
And on the thrones of iniquity
Sit mighty tyrants
Why are you sleeping so quietly
in the dusty earth
Wake up, son
My obstinate son
Wake up.

A Soldier's Elegy

Faiz Ahmed Faiz

[Jannah]

'Be Near Me'

You who demolish me, you whom I love,
be near me. Remain near me when evening,
drunk on the blood of the skies,
becomes night, in its one hand
a perfumed balm, in the other
a sword sheathed in the diamond of stars.

Be near me when night laments or sings,
or when it begins to dance,
its steel-blue anklets ringing with grief.

Be here when longings, long submerged
in the heart's waters, resurface
and when everyone begins to look:
Where is the assassin? In whose sleeve
is hidden the redeeming knife?

And when wine, as it is poured, is the sobbing
of children whom nothing will console -
when nothing holds,
when nothing is:
at that dark hour when night mourns,
be near me, my destroyer, my lover,
be near me.

Faiz Ahmed Faiz

[Jannah]

What other road could I've taken?
Thorns were strewn on each !

Relationships over,
friends of centuries
gone one by one,
alone,
whichever road and
whatever direction I took
my feet were bloodied.

Those who see me
wonder what am I trying to imply
by coloring my feet ?
They used to say
why am I complaining
needlessly
about the loss of friendship;
Go, wash my feet.

Where these road end
hundreds more will open up,
keep your spirit up
your heart will blunt
hundreds of swords !

Faiz

[Jannah]

Last night
you sneaked into my thoughts
like the Spring quietly took over wasteland
like a breeze softly through a desert
like sudden solace to the sick,
for no reason.

Tonight,
don't touch the sad chords
No need to recall the travails now
No need to complain, let it to the fate
No need to think of the future (hell with it!)
No need to cry over the past
All pain and grief end somehow.

Don't play on the sad chords again,
tonight.

FAIZ AHMED FAIZ

[Jannah]

Ham keh thehare ajnabi itni mudaraton ke bad
Phir banenge ashna kitni mulaqaton ke bad


Will we who remain strangers after all kindnesses are over
Become familiar after all these meetings are over?

How many seasons of rain will have to fall over
Scarred leaves before their greenness comes unbloodied to mind?

The instant when pain of love ceased brought only numbness.
Mornings are merciless after the merciful nights are over.

How I wanted, but how my fractured heart did not allow,
Flirtatious complaints after the supplications were over.

And what you came so willing to give up all for, Faiz,
Was utterly unvoiced when all the talking was over.

[siddiqui]

shaam-e-firaaq ab na puuchh aaii aur aake Tal gaii
dil thaa ke phir bahal gayaa, jaan thii ke phir sambhal gaii


bazm-e-Khayaal me.n tere husn kii shamaa jal gaii
dard kaa chaand bujh gayaa, hijr kii raat Dhal gaii


jab tujhe yaad kar liyaa, subha mahak mahak uThii
jab teraa Gam jagaa liyaa, raat machal machal gaii


dil se to har muaamalaa karake chale the saaf ham
kahane mein unkae saamane, baat badal badal gaii


aaKhir-e-shab ke hamasafar 'Faiz' na jaane kyaa hue
rah gaii kis jagah sabaa, subha kidhar nikal gaii

Jinaah Hospital, Karachi
July 1953 

http://www.urdupoetry.com/faiz21.html

[Jannah]

salam,

you can't just post faiz like that and not translate it!!!

[Jannah]

Everything about you,
I wove into my poetry,
all I had to say was yours.

Metaphors for color, fragrance,
beauty and goodness,
all about you.

Before you and your promises
I was supported by other things.
When I count the jewels
your pain endowed my heart
all the stars in the sky
fall in my lap.
I pray for her long life,
though she wasn't quite mine....

Faiz

[Jannah]

Code Select Expand

Heart's Companion by Faiz Ahmed Faiz

I said to my heart, let us wander—
An order has gone out that we
Be exiled again from our home.
Let us send echoes down the streets
As we turn from city to city
Searching for some sign
Of a friend with news to tell us.
Let us ask every stranger if
He knows the place where we once lived.
At the end of some urban maze
We will make nights from days,
Talking sometimes to someone
And sometimes to someone else.

The night of longing is a grim trial,
But how could I describe it to you?
We were destined to make a way,
Somehow, to the old conclusion . . .
"Once it comes, if it comes once
And for all, death will be no burden."

London, 1978


[Jannah]

One translation of this was posted before. I'll put the two here for comparison and delete the other one:

Code Select Expand


It seems the Spring's coming --
the garden now has a few blossoms,
though autumn still rules in places;
poets huddle in niches.

Though the night's darkness remains,
some colors of dawn also appear
mixed with our blood,
such that
the candles are now lit in gatherings.

Go ahead, tilt the crown,*
after losing everything,
we're now part of the things happening.
Those in prison will wake up in the garden,
as written in the winds.

The desert is still a desert, but Faiz,
at least, from our blood
thorns of the cacti have nourished.

[*an exprssion that could also mean: 'be proud of youself']

Code Select Expand


The light of spring seems possible
for a few buds have begun to blossom,
and though dark autumn is still the ruler,
nature's music fills garden corners.

Night's inky darkness seems unchanging,
but the colors of dawn do slowly appear,
and though our life's blood has fueled the flames,
a few lamps have lit this gathering.

Hold your heads high for having lost all,
we are now indifferent to the whims of fate -
the caged people will wake at this dawn,
which has grown from a hint to a promise.

Though this desert remains barren, Faiz,
the blood from your feet has flooded a few cactii.

Faiz

[Jannah]

Code Select Expand

Don't ask me, sweetheart, for the love we had before.

I knew you were the source of my happiness;
I didn't need other worries when I had you to worry about.

It was you who made the world look so young
What else is there for me but your eyes.

If ever I find you, I'd have the destiny in my hand.
This was not to be, though I'd wanted it so much.

The world has many other woes, besides our love,
many other delights besides our togetherness.
Dark suspicions of centuries
are woven into the rich fabric of life.

Bodies, smeared in dirt and blood,
are sold everywhere.

I can't say why my eyes turn to this
I know you're still beautiful, but what can I say
the world has many more woes, besides our love,
many more delights besides our togetherness.

Don't ask, sweetheart, for the love we had before !

[Jannah]

My pain, an unsung song
my being, mere dust.
When my pain is heard,
my life would have a meaning
and when I find out how
I'd know how this world works.

When I'm heard --
it'd be happiness
worth the riches of the worlds.

FAIZ