AT TIMES LIKE THIS, WE CAN ONLY TAKE REFUGE IN FAIZ THE DAWN OF FREEDOM (AUGUST , 1947) (translated from the Urdu by Agha Shahid Ali) Ye daagh daagh ujaalaa, ye shab-gaziida sahar, Vo intizaar thaa jis-kaa, ye vo sahar to nahiiN, Ye vo sahar to nahiiN jis-kii aarzu lekar Chale the yaar ke mil-ja`egi kahiiN na kahiN These tarnished rays, this night-smudged light– This is not that Dawn for which, ravished with freedom, we had set out in sheer longing, so sure that somewhere in its desert the sky harbored a final haven for the stars, and we would find it. We had no doubt that night’s vagrant wave would stray towards the shore that the heart rocked with sorrow would at last reach its port. Friends, our blood shaped its own mysterious roads. When hands tugged at our sleeves, enticing us to stay, and from wonderous chambers Sirens cried out with their beguiling arms, with their bare bodies, our eyes remained fixed on that beckoning dawn, forever vivid in her muslins of transparent light. Our blood was young–what could hold us back? Now listen to the terrible rampant lie: Light has forever been severed from the Dark; our feet, it is heard, are now one with their goal. See our leaders polish their manner clean of our suffering: Indeed, we must confess only to bliss; we must surrender any utterance for the Beloved–all yearning is outlawed. But the heart, the eye, the yet deeper heart– Still ablaze for the Beloved, their turmoil shines. In the lantern by the road the flame is stalled for news: Did the morning breeze ever come? Where has it gone? Night weighs us down; it still weighs us down. Friends, come away from this false light. Come, we must search for that promised Dawn. Ye daagh daagh ujaalaa, ye shab-gaziida sahar, Vo intizaar thaa jis-kaa, ye vo sahar to nahiiN, Ye vo sahar to nahiiN jis-kii aarzu lekar Chale the yaar ke mil-ja`egi kahiiN na kahiN Falak ke dasht meN taroN kii aakhiri manzil, KahiN to hogaa shab-e sust mauj kaa sahil, KahiN to jaake rukegaa safiina-e-gham-e-dil. JawaaN lahu kii pur-asraar shaahrahoN se Chale jo yaar to daaman pe kitne hath paRe; Ye daagh daagh ujaalaa, ye shab-gaziida sahar, Vo intizaar thaa jis-kaa, ye vo sahar to nahiiN, Ye vo sahar to nahiiN jis-kii aarzu lekar Chale the yaar ke mil-ja`egi kahiiN na kahiN Falak ke dasht meN taroN kii aakhiri manzil, KahiN to hogaa shab-e sust mauj kaa sahil, KahiN to jaake rukegaa safiina-e-gham-e-dil. JawaaN lahu kii pur-asraar shaahrahoN se Chale jo yaar to daaman pe kitne hath paRe; Diyaar-e-husn kii be-sabr khwaabgaahoN se Pukaarti-rahiiN baahen, badan bulaate-rahe; Bahut aziiz thii lekin rukh-e-sahar ki lagan, Bahut qariin thaa hasiinaN-e-nuur kaa daaman, , Subuk subuk thii tamannaa, dabii dabii thii thakan. Sunaa hai ho bhii chukaa hai firaaq-e-zulmat-o-nuur, Sunaa hai ho bhii chukaa hai visaal-e-manzil-o-gaam; Badal-chukaa hai bahut ahl-e-dard kaa dastuur, Nishaat-e-vasl halaal o azab-e-hijr haraam. Jigar kii aag, nazar kii umang, dil kii jalan, kisii pe chaara-e-hijraaN kaa kuchh asar hii nahiiN. KahaaN se aaii nigaar-e-sabaa, kidhar ko gaii? Abhii charaagh-e-sar-e-rah ko kuchh khabar hii nahiiN; Abhii giraanii-e-shab meN kamii nahiiN aaii, Najaat-e-diidaa-o-dil ki ghaRii nahiiN aaii; Chale-chalo ke vo manjil abhii nahiiN aaii D
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 14:35:39 +0000
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