Parveen and Asad

Parveen
 

Petal to petal, spore to spore
Rumors of love, spread, door to door
Like the sweet scent, of a blooming rose
He courted me, ever so slow

How can I say, he has left me
He is here, no more
The infamy of this truth
I cannot ignore

Wherever he went; he returned
He came back to me
His fickle virtue is enough
To keep me happy

May, he, be in your arms
The one, you adore
May, the night of separation
Never knock on your door

As he lay his healing palm
On my torrid brow
A feeling of rejuvenation
Reached deep into my soul

kuu-ba-kuu phail ga_ii
baat shanaasaa_ii kii
us ne Khushbuu kii tarah
merii paziiraa_ii kii

kaise kah duu.N ki
mujhe chhor diyaa hai us ne
baat to sach hai
magar baat hai rusvaa_ii kii

vo kahii.n bhii gayaa, lauTa
to mere paas aayaa
bas yahii baat hai achchhii
mere harajaa_ii kii

teraa pahaluu
tere dil kii tarah aabaad rahe
tujh pe guzare na qayaamat
shab-e-tanhaa_ii kii

us ne jalatii hu_ii peshaanii pe
jo haath rakhaa
ruuh tak aa ga_ii
taasiir masiihaa_ii kii

 
---xxx---
 
Asad

A children’s playground; the world before me
Nightly and daily, watching its pageantry

Solomon’s throne; but, a game to me
Miracles of Messiah; a mere simplicity

The Universe; I accept, only as a name
All things, before me; nothing, but illusionary

In its dust, hides the desert, when I appear
Rivers bow at their banks, with my fear

Do not ask, in your absence, have I been lonely
Just notice the poise, you display, before me

Arrogant and egoistic; why should not, I be?
My beloved’s reflection is spread all around me

If flowery speech is what you want to see
Then place the wine goblet, right next to me

My hate is a façade, for my uncontrolled envy
Can I stop his name, being uttered before me

Faith restrains me, as temptations attack
The church in front; the mosque at my back

A lover, I am, with deceptive charms
Laila forgets Majnu, when, in my arms

Not to die for; but our union is a delight
Fulfillment of my wish on our separation night

Turbulent waves; no more!; they are a blood-soaked sea
I know not, what else, is in store for me

Though lifeless hands; but eyes, still alive
Leave the flask and wineglass, by my side

My colleague, my confidant; we share the same wine
Do not abuse Ghalib; he is a friend of mine

baaziichaa-e-atfaal hai duniyaa mere aage
hotaa hai shab-o-roz tamaashaa mere aage

ik khel hai aurang-e-sulemaa.N mere nazadiik
ik baat hai ejaaz-e-masiihaa mere aage

juz naam nahii.n suurat-e-aalam mujhe manzuur
juz vaham nahii.n hastii-e-ashiyaa mere aage

hotaa hai nihaa.N gard me.n seharaa mere hote
ghisataa hai jabii.n Khaak pe dariyaa mere aage

mat puuchh ke kyaa haal hai meraa tere piichhe
tuu dekh ke kyaa rang hai teraa mere aage

sach kahate ho Khud_biin-o-Khud_aaraa huu.N na kyo.N huu.N
baiThaa hai but-e-aa_iinaa siimaa mere aage

phir dekhiye andaaz-e-gul_afshaanii-e-guftaar
rakh de ko_ii paimaanaa-e-sahabaa mere aage

nafrat ka gumaa.N guzare hai mai.n rashk se guzaraa
kyo.N kar kahuu.N lo naam naa us kaa mere aage

imaa.N mujhe roke hai jo khii.nche hai mujhe kufr
kaabaa mere piichhe hai kaliisaa mere aage

aashiq huu.N pe maashuuq_farebii hai mera kaam
majanuu.N ko buraa kahatii hai lailaa mere aage

Khush hote hai.n par vasl me.n yuu.N mar nahii.n jaate
aa_ii shab-e-hijaraa.N kii tamannaa mere aage

hai mauj_zan ik qulzum-e-Khuu.N kaash! yahii ho
aataa hai abhii dekhiye kyaa-kyaa mere aage

go haath ko jumbish nahii.n aa.Nkho.n me.n to dam hai
rahane do abhii saaGar-o-miinaa mere aage

ham_peshaa-o-ham_masharab-o-ham_raaz hai meraa
’Ghalib’ ko buraa kyo.N kaho achchhaa mere aage

---xxx---



Parveen Shakir was born in 1952, in Karachi. She was initially a teacher, and then went on to join the Pakistan Civil Services in the Customs department – where she spent her whole career. She is, undoubtedly, known more for her Urdu poetry than for her Civil Services career. She gained her intial fame as an Urdu poet, while still a student. She wrote five poetry books – Khushbu (Fragrance), Khud-Kalaami (Soliloquy), Inkaar (Refusal) and Sudburg (Marigolds). These were followed by her posthumous Kaf-e Aa’eena. She is considered by many to be the best Urdu poet of this generation. She is considered by everyone to be one of the best female Urdu poets of all time.

Parveen Shakir was quite accomplished in areas outside Urdu poetry, as well. She had a Masters degree in English literature from the University of Karachi. She spent the 1990-91 academic year as a Fulbright Consortium Scholar at St. Joseph’s College and Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut. At the time of her death, she was pursuing a degree in Public Administration at Harvard University.

I was introduced to Parveen Shakir, through Mehdi Hasan’s rendition of Ku ba ku phail gayee. This ghazal has become one of Mehdi Hasan’s trademarks. Parveen Shakir’s ghazals have been sung by Tina Sani, as well.

Parveen Shakir died in the prime of her poetic career, in 1994, in a tragic car accident.