Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Recently came across two poems by the great Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Just one glance at those poems and I got a glimpse of what beauty lay in those lines. The choice of Urdu words and the clear message that was conveyed through those poems was stunning. One poem is about freedom and another is about the moment. It was like "Wow, what poems."

Just read those lines, "Ye daag daag ujaala". There is brightness, but it is blotted, and has many black spots. The poet hopes for freedom, but this was not the freedom which he was hoping for. Fantastic poems. Salutes to you.

Subh-e-aazaadii  

ye daag-daag ujaalaa, ye shab-gaziidaa sahar
wo intezaar tha jiskaa, ye wo sahar to nahiin

ye wo sahar to nahiin jiskii aarzoo lekar
chale the yaar ke mil jayegi kahiin na kahiin
falak ke dashth mein taaron kii aakhirii manzil

kahin to hogaa shab-e-sustmoujh kaa saahil
kahin to jake rukegaa sakiin-e-gam-e-dil

jawan lahuu kii pur asraar shahraahon se
chale jo yaar to daaman pe kitne haath pade
dayaar-e-husn kii be-sabra khwaabgaahon se
pukaarti rahiin baahen, badan bulate rahe

bahut azeez thii lekin ruKh-e-sahar kii lagan
bahut kariin tha hasiinane noor kaa daaman
subuk-subuk thi tamanna dabi-dabi thi thakan

sunaa hai ho bhi chukaa hai firaaq-e-zulmat-e-noor
sunaa hai ho bhi chukaa hai wisaal-e-manzil-o-gaam

badal chukaa hai bahut ahal-e-dard kaa dastoor
nishaat-e-wasl halaal-o-azaab-e-hijr-e-haraam
jigar kii aag, nazar kii umang, dil kii jalan
kisii pe chaar:e-hijra.N kaa kuchch asar hii nahii.n
kahaa.N se aayii nigaar-e-sabaa kidhhar ko gaii
abhii chiraaG-e-sar-e-rah ko kuchch khabar hii nahiin
abhii garaanii-e-shab me.n kamii nahi.n aaii
nazaat-e-deed'h-o-dil kii ghadii nahi.n aaii
chale chalo ki wah manzil abhi nahi.n aaii 

Is waqt to yun lagata hai ab kuch bhi nahi hai

is waqt to yun lagata hai ab kuch bhi nahi hai
mahatab na suraj na andhera na savera

aankhon ke dariche mein kisi husn ke jhalakan
aur dil ke panahon mein kisi dard ka dera

mumkin hai koi vaham ho, mumkin hai suna ho
galiyon mein kisi chap ka ek aakhiri phera

shakhon mein khayalon ke ghane ped ke shayad
ab aake karega na koi khwab basera

ik bair na ik mahar na ik rabt na rishta
tera koi apna na paraya koi mera

mana ki ye sun-san ghadi sakht badi hai
lekin mere dil ye to faqat ek ghadi hai
himmat karo jine ko abhi umr padi hai