Alien City

These words are a gift,
Your love through my pen flows...
I am a visitor in an alien city,
a folded map in my hands...
I wander on well lit streets,
In search of a resting place...

- Amit Pathak
Dt.06/09/09

Ek Boond

Ek Boond
Written by Ayodhya Singh Upadhyay 'Hariodh'

Jyon nikal kar baadalon kee god se
thi abhi ek boond kuchh aage badhi,
sochane fir-fir yahi ji men lagi,
aah! kyon ghar chhodkar main yon kadhi ?

Dev mere bhagya men kya hai bada,
main bachoongi ya miloongi dhool men ?
ya jaloongi gir angare par kisi,
choo padoongi ya kamal ke phool men ?

Bah gayi us kaal ek aisi hava,
vah samundar ore aaee anmani,
ek sundar seep ka munh tha khula,
vah usi men ja padi moti bani.

Log yon hi hain jhijhakte, sochate,
jabaki unko chhodna padata hai ghar,
kintu ghar ka chhodna aksar unhen,
boond laun kuchh aur hi deta hai kar.

Khoobsurat Mor (Sahir Ludhianvi)

Chalo ik baar phir se ajnabii ban jaayeiN ham donoN!

Na maiN tum se koii ummeed rakhouN dil-navaazii kii
Na tum meri taraf dekho Ghalat-andaaz nazroN se
Na mere dil kii dhaRkan laRkhaRaaye merii baatoN meiN
Na zaahir ho tumhaari kash-ma-kash kaa raaz nazroN se

TumheiN bhi koii uljhan roktii hai pesh-qadmii se
Mujhe bhi log kahte haiN k ye jalve paraaye haiN
Mere hamraah bhii rusvaaiyaaN haiN mere maazii kii
Tumhaare saath bhii guzrii huii raatoN ke saaye haiN

Ta’arruf rog ho jaaye to usko bhoolna behtar
Ta’alluq bhoj ban jaaye to usko toRna achchhaa
Vo afsaanaa jise aNjaam tak laanaa na ho mumkin
Use ik Khoobsoorat moR dekar chhoRnaa achchha

Chalo ik baar phir se ajnabii ban jaayeiN ham donoN

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Glossary:

pesh-qadmi = making a move
maazii = past
ta’arruf = acquaintance (to know someone)
ta’alluq = relation (with someone)
afsaanaa = story
anjaam = end, result

Sitaron Se Age - Dr. Iqbal Allama (English Translation by me)

Poet: Dr. (Sir) Muhammad Iqbal Allama

sitaron se age jahan aur bhi hain
abhi ishq ke imtihan aur bhi hain

tahi zindagi se nahin ye fazayen
yahan saikaron karawan aur bhi hain

kanat na kar alam-e-rang-o-bu par
chaman aur bhi, ashiyan aur bhi hain

agar kho gaya ek nasheman to kya gam
maqamat-e-ah-o-fugan aur bhi hain

tu shahin hai parwaz hai kam tera
tere samne asman aur bhi hain

isi roz-o-shab mein ulajh kar na rah ja
ke tere zamin-o-makan aur bhi hain

gaye din ke tanha tha main anjuman mein
yahan ab mere razadan aur bhi hain

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Meaning of words (Translations courtesy yours Truly):

There are yet more worlds beyond the Stars
There are more examinations that love has yet to surpass

This environment is not bereft of life
There are thousand caravans that are yet to pass

Do not be satisfied by the colors and the smells of the present
There are yet more undiscovered homes and gardens

Why do you grieve at having lost a loved one?
There are many other places and reasons to cry

You are a Falcon, and it is your purpose to soar
Many open skies lie ahead in your path

Do not get trapped by the day and the night
Because you, have yet to discover more lands and spaces

Gone are the days that I was lonely in society
I now have more people to share my secrets.