Faiz Translated, Part 2..

To the handful of you who have been following these chronicles (and may the Power be with you for doing so), the fact that translating Urdu poetry into English has been an enduring passion with me is a known fact. 

Urdu poetry, of course, defies translation, and no attempt comes anywhere near the original in its form, rhyme and metre. Yet, the passion endures..

Among the greats, Iqbal is arguably the most obtuse, and I gave up my attempts at translating `Shikwa' long back. Faiz is sheer poetry, and one can lose oneself in his sublime imagery. I had posted my attempt at his `Soch' as `Reflections' some years ago. One could look it up at 

http://hbpuri.blogspot.in/2012/05/faiz-translated.html


Here is my attempt - I use the word `attempt' advisedly, for that is precisely what it is - a feeble attempt) - at translating his `Tanhaii'. It was done in a dash, when I was feeling particularly lonely (Ah, the travails of creeping age..)

TANHAII

- Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Phir koi aayaa, dil-e-zaar! Nahin, koi nahin;
Raah-rau hoga, kahin aur chala jayega.
Dhal chuki raat, bikharne laga taaron ka ghubaar,
Larkharaane lage aiwaanon mein khwaabiida charaagh,
So gayi raasta tak tak ke har ek rah guzar;
Ajnabi khaak ne dhundlaa diye qadmon ke suraagh.

Gul karo shamiin, barhaa do mai-o-miinaa-o-ayaagh,
Apne be-khwaab kivaaron ko muqaffal kar lo;
Ab yahan koi nahin, koi nahin aayega!

SOLITUDE

- Translated by Harish Puri

Hark, is that a footfall I hear?

Or is it just my sobbing heart?

A vagrant, he’ll soon be on his way

This slender hope too shall depart..

As night falls, and stars, like clouds

Scatter across the crimson sky

And worn out lamps, like broken dreams

Shall flicker dimly, before they die

Soon sleep shall overcome these lanes

Weary with wait, with misery

As dust that mercilessly blows

And obliterates each memory

Blow out the lamps, empty the wine

Bolt all doors, forego all dreams

Now solitude and loneliness are mine

For none, just none shall come this way..