gulo.n me.n rang bhare, baad-e-naubahaar chale
chale bhii aao ki gulshan kaa karobaar chale
qaffas udaas hai yaro, sabaa se kuchh to kaho
kahii.n to bahr-e-Khudaa aaj zikr-e-yaar chale
kabhii to subh tere kunj-e-lab se ho aaGaaz
kabhii to shab sar-e-kaakul se mushk-baar chale
ba.Daa hai dard kaa rishtaa, ye dil Gariib sahii
tumhaare naam pe aaye.nge Gam_gusaar chale
jo ham pe guzarii so guzarii magar shab-e-hijraa.N
hamaare ashk terii aaqibat sa.Nwaar chale
huzoor-e-yaar huii daftar-e-junuu.N kii talab
girah me.n leke garebaa.N kaa taar taar chale
maqaam ‘Faiz’ koii raah me.n jachaa hii nahii.n
jo kuu-e-yaar se nikale to suu-e-daar chale
Translation and Meaning
gulo.n me.n rang bhare, baad-e-naubahaar chale
chale bhii aao ki gulshan kaa karobaar chale
Translation: May it fill the flowers with color, may the breeze of the early spring start flowing. Please come back, so that the Garden is back to business (it’s past glory)
*gul=flower
*baad=wind/ breeze
*naubahaar=early spring
qaffas udaas hai yaro, sabaa se kuchh to kaho
kahii.n to bahr-e-Khudaa aaj zikr-e-yaar chale
Translation: The cage longs for it’s occupant, let the breeze know (so that
it spreads the word). At least the name of my beloved would find mention for heaven’s sake in this vast ocean (of God)
qafas=cage, body
*udaas=sad
*yaaro=friend
*saba=breeze
*bahr=ocean
*khuda=god
*zikr=mention
kabhii to sub.h tere kunj-e-lab se ho aaGaaz
kabhii to shab sar-e-kaakul se mushk-baar chale
Translation: At least once, the morning may sprout forth from your (lotus
like) pursed lips. At least once, the evening may again spread like fragrant
hair.
*kunj=flower
*lab=lips
*aaGaaz=start
*sar=head
*kaakul=hair
*mushk=frangrance
*mushk-baar=full of fragrance
ba.Daa hai dard kaa rishtaa, ye dil Gariib sahii
tumhaare naam pe aaye.nge Gam_gusaar chale
Translation: My relationship with Pain is rich, even though my Heart
remains poor (unfulfilled). Those who come to console me are your lovers and they come pulled by your mention (they come to listen not to me, but about what I say about you).
*Gam_gusaar=consolers/ pain relievers
jo ham pe guzarii so guzarii magar shab-e-hijraa.N
hamaare ashk terii aaqibat sa.Nwaar chale
Translation: Whatever happened to me, has happened, but on the night of
separation, my cleansing/ tears (still) wish/ bids you a better future.
Meaning: The separation of countries (as well the torture of a poet presently in jail – as his country hounded Faiz for many years) has happened, nothing can be undone. But I wish that the tears I shed on this separation, (have made some difference in the country’s future) bid you a better future. This could be for India-Pakistan separation. It is also about his own separation with his own country being in jail till 1955. Later he had to flee, in 1955s (and again in 1960s). He felt quite tortured over this.
*shab=night
*hijraan=separation
*ashk=tears
*aaqibat=future
*sanwaar=restore/ improve
huzoor-e-yaar huii daftar-e-junuu.N kii talab
girah me.n leke garebaa.N kaa taar taar chale
Translation: In your presence my lover, my office of passion was sought for
And I came, with whatever knots of shreds were left on my body
*daftar=office
*junuu.N=passion
*talab=sought/ seek
*girah=knot
*garebaa.N=collar
*taar=shreds
maqaam ‘Faiz’ koii raah me.n jachaa hii nahii.n
jo kuu-e-yaar se nikale to suu-e-daar chale
Translation: No destination appealed to me, I came out from my beloved’s
street and went on without stopping till I reach the gallows
*Maqaam=destination
*jacha=attract, appeal, fancy
*koo-e-yaar=lane of beloved
*soo-e-daar=towards death/ gallows/ next life
(The featured image at the top shows Pakistani Urdu poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz)
