Shikra – The Hawk

His beauty
Was sharp as sunlight.
He was thirsty for perfumes.
His color was the color of a rose,
The son of a fair mother.
I was enamored!

His eyes,
Were an evening in springtime.
His hair, a dark cloud.
His lips,
A rising autumn dawn.
I was enamored!

His breath
Was filled with flowers,
Like a sandalwood garden.
Spring danced thru his body
So bathed was it in fragrances.
I was enamored!.

In his words
Blew the eastern breeze,
Like the sound of a blackbird.
His smile was the whiteness of a crane in the rice fields,
Taking flight at the clap of a hand.
I was enamored!.

I laid
A bed of love
In the moonlight.
My body-sheet was stained
The instant he laid his foot on my bed.
I was enamored!

The corners of my eyes,
Hurt.
A flood of tears engulfed me.
All night long I tried to fathom
How he did this to me.
I was enamored!

Early in the morning
I scrubbed and bathed my body
With vaTana.
But embers kept bursting out,
And my hands flagged.
I was enamored!

I crushed choori,
He would not eat it.
So I fed him the flesh of my heart.
He took flight, such a flight did he take,
That he never returned.
I was enamored!

Mother! Mother!
I befriended a hawk.
A plume on his head
Bells on his feet,
He came pecking for grain.
I was enamored!
Dear Friends this is a punjabi poem translation of a very well known writer Shiv Kumar Batalvi who is often regarded as the Keats of Punjabi, is perhaps the most important poet of modern Punjabi. He is a vivid sorcerer with words whose writings revolve primarily around grief in human life, especially in love and have the capacity to pierce hearts and move mountains. The most striking characteristic of his pennings is the the use of beautiful imagery through extensive symbolisms.

Following is the original punjabi version of the poem,

Shikra – The Hawk

Ik uhde roop di
Dhup tikheri,
Dooja mahikaaN da tirhaaiya,
Teeja uhda raNg gulaabi
Kise gori ma da jaaiya.
Ni maeN vaari jaaN!

Naeni uhde
Chet di aathan,
Ate zulfeeN saavan CHaaya.
HoTHaaN de vich kahte da
Koi dihooN chaRne te aaiya.
Ni maeN vaari jaaN!

SaahvaaN de vich
Phul soiyaaN de
Kise baag chanan da laaiya.
Dehi deh vich kheDe chetar,
ItraaN naal nuhaaiya.
Ni maeN vaari jaaN!

BolaaN de vich
Paun pure di,
Ni o koyilaaN da hamsaaya.
ChiTe daNd jyuN dhaano bagala,
TauRi maar uDaaiya.
Ni maeN vaari jaaN!

Ishke da
Ik palaNgh nuwaari
AsaaN chaananiyaaN vich Daahiya.
Tan di chaadar ho gayi maeli
Us paer ja palaNghe paaiya.
Ni maeN vaari jaaN!

Dukhan mere
NaenaaN de koye,
Vich haR haNjhuaaN da aaiya.
Saari raat gayi vich sochaaN
Us e ki zulam kamaaiya.
Ni maeN vaari jaaN!

Subaah savere
Lae ni vaTana
AsaaN mal mal us nuhaaiya.
Dehi vichoN niklan chingaaN
Te saaDa hath giya kumhalaaiya.
Ni maeN vaari jaaN!

Choori kuTaaN
Te o khaaNda naaheeN
Uhnu dil da maas khavaaiya.
Ik uDaari aesi maari
O muR vatani na aaiya.
Ni maeN vaari jaaN!

Maae! Ni maae!
MaeN ik shikra yaar banaaiya.
Uhde sir te kalgi
Te uhde paereeN jhaaNjhar,
Te o chog chugeeNda aaiya.
Ni maeN vaari jaaN!

This Song is sung by Jagjit Singh as he recorded the Punjabi “Birha Da Sultan”, poems of Shiv Kumar Batalvi. Jagjit’s interpretation and mellifluous rendering of Batalvi’s sad verses haunted listeners for decades. A quarter of a century after the album was released, hit numbers like “Shikra” (where the beloved is compared to the falcon who won’t eat what is offered and “so, I fed it the flesh of my heart”) are requested at Jagjit’s live concerts. Recently he recorded this song in Sydney Opera House Concert; audience happened to ask for Encore!!!

A man who don’t need any introduction, whose poetry is as famous as the flower Rose. Recently his poetry got translated in many languages in Europe, and got very popular in Poland.

I started learning his poetry more than 10 years back, his ideas of thoughts are still fresh and relevent to modern societies. His poetry reflects ideas from the common situations like a child is playing in the street, to something about life after death and also existence of once in the life.

I am putting my ideas and good collection of poetry of Ghalib on these rare pages, i hope you will enjoy them and can put your comments also.

Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan (Urdu/Persian: مرزا اسد اللہ خان ), pen-name Ghalib (Urdu/Persian: غالب, ġhālib) and Asad (former pen-name)(27 December 1796 — 15 February 1869), was an all time great classical Urdu and Persian poet of the subcontinent. Most notably, he wrote several ghazals during his life, which have since been interpreted and sung in many different ways by different people. He is considered to be the most dominating poet of the Urdu language.

Yeh na thee hamari qismat..
Yeh na thee hamari qismat keh wisaal-e-yaar hotaAgar aur jeete rahtay yehi intezaar hota
Tere waade par jiyee ham to yeh jaan jhoot janaKeh khushi se mar na jaate agar intezaar hota
Yeh kahaan ki dosti hai bane hain dost naasehKoi chaarasaaz hota koi ghamghuzar hota
Kahoon kis se main keh kya hai shab-e-gham buri balaa haiMujhe kya bura tha marana agar aikbaar hota
Huay mar keh ham jo ruswa huay kyun ka gharq-e-dariyaNa kabhi janaza uthata na kahin mazaar hota
Yeh masaael-e-tasavvuf yeh tera bayan ghalibTujhe ham wali samajhate Joh na badaakhwar hota.
T R A N S L A T I O N I N E N G L I S H
It was never in my fate to meet my beloved.Even if more years of life was to me allocated, I would have been still awaiting the prize cherished.
If you think that I had been living on your promise, it is a lie.For, if I had faith in you, would not of joy I would die.
Woe betide, my friendship, that the friends give pious advice and sermons they deliver.I need someone on whose shoulders could I weep, who could allay my grief and my fears.
Whom should I tell that the night of sorrow is full of pangs.I would not have resented the death, if it comes only once.
Disgraced, as I was after my death, why didn’t I drown in a river or sea.Neither, there would have been a funeral, nor tomb erected for me.
The marvels of ethical problems and your statements full of meanings.I would have counted you, “Ghalib” amongst dearest friends of God; if only, you had not been a lover of drinks.

Since long time, Kabir has mystified me. Kabir, a saint to millions, a universal Guru, a poet, a lover, a weaver by profession, a Sufi, and last but not the least a mystic.

As the poet Gulzar says, the more you read Kabir, the more clear your vision becomes towards the life. He sang Dohe, which means two lines couplet. Also many Sakhi which are love songs for divine powers. He never did any religious speech, but always mentioned daily life examples to love one’s Guru. His teaching helps to deal daily time to time situations. Think wise, and respect one’s education.

A weaver by profession, Kabir ranks among the world’s greatest poets. Back home in India, he is perhaps the most quoted author. The Holy Guru Granth Sahib contains over 500 verses by Kabir. The Sikh community in particular and others who follow the Holy Granth, hold Kabir in the same reverence as the other ten Gurus.

Bada Hua To Kya Hua, Jaise Ped Khajoor
Panthi Ko Chaya Nahin, Phal Laage Atidoor

In vain is the eminence, just like a date tree
No shade for travelers, fruit is hard to reach

Chalti Chukki dekh kar deha kabira Roye,
Duyi paten ke beech sabut bacha na koye

Looking at the grinding stones, Kabir laments
In the duel of wheels, nothing stays intact.

Mystic Songs

Moko Kahan Dhundhere Bande
Mein To Tere Paas Mein
Na Teerath Mein, Na Moorat Mein
Na Ekant Niwas MeinNa Mandir Mein,
Na Masjid Mein Na Kabe Kailas Mein
Mein To Tere Paas Mein Bande
Mein To Tere Paas Mein
Na Mein Jap Mein,
Na Mein Tap Mein Na Mein Barat Upaas Mein
Na Mein Kiriya Karm Mein Rehta Nahin Jog Sanyas Mein
Nahin Pran Mein Nahin Pind Mein
Na Brahmand Akas Mein
Na Mein Prakuti Prawar Gufa Mein
Nahin Swasan Ki Swans Mein
Khoji Hoye Turat Mil Jaoon Ik Pal Ki Talas Mein
Kahet Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho Mein To Hun Viswas Mein

French Translation
Où me cherches tu? Je suis avec toi Je ne suis pas dans les pèlerinages, ni dans les icônes, Ni dans l’isolement, Ni dans les temples, ni dans les mosquées, Ni a la Kaaba, ni au mont Kailash, Je suis avec toi, ô mon serviteur Je suis avec toi Pas dans les prières, ni la méditation, Ni dans le jeûne, Ni dans les renoncements yogiques, Ni dans la force vitale, ni dans le corps, Ni même dans l’éther Ni dans le sein de la nature, Ni dans le souffle des souffles. Cherche ardemment, et découvre, En un seul moment de recherche. Kabir dit, écoute avec attention, Où est ta foi, c’est là que je me trouve.
French Translation by Gilles Rey

Where do you search me?I am with youNot in pilgrimage, nor in iconsNeither in solitudesNot in temples, nor in mosquesNeither in Kaba nor in KailashI am with you o manI am with youNot in prayers, nor in meditationNeither in fastingNot in yogic exercisesNeither in renunciationNeither in the vital force nor in the body Not even in the ethereal space Neither in the womb of Nature Not in the breath of the breathSeek earnestly and discoverIn but a moment of searchSays Kabir, Listen with careWhere your faith is, I am there.

Gagan Ki Ot Nisana Hai Bhai

Dahine Sur Chandrama Banye
Tin Ke Beech Chipana Hai Bhai

Tan Ki Kaman Surat Ka Raunda

Shabad Baan Le Taana Hai Bhai
Maarat Baan Bidha Tan Hi Tan
Satguru Ka Parwana Hai Bhai
Maaryo Baan Ghav Nahin Tan Me

Jin Laaga Tin Jaana Hai Bhai
Kahe Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho

Jin Jaana Tin Maana Hai Bhai

Concealed Beyond the Sky is the Target

On the Right is the Sun, Moon is on the Left
Bisecting them it has to be Hidden
Body is the Bow, Visualization is the Roll of String
Unstruck Sound is the Arrow – Erect and Ready to Take Off
The Arrow is Released Leaving the Body-Instrument Behind

It’s the Messenger of the True-Guru

Despite Shooting the Arrow there is no Injury Mark on the Body

Only those who are Struck Experience it
Says Kabir Listen Oh Practicing Aspirant

Those who Experience Know it

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