ai raushniyon ke shahr
Interesting Fact
written in Montgomery Jail ( 28 March 1954)
sabza sabza suukh rahī hai phīkī zard dopahar
dīvāroñ ko chaaT rahā hai tanhā.ī kā zahr
duur ufuq tak ghaTtī baḌhtī uThtī rahtī hai
kohr kī sūrat be-raunaq dardoñ kī gadlī lahr
bastā hai is kohr ke pīchhe raushniyoñ kā shahr
ai raushniyoñ ke shahr
kaun kahe kis samt hai terī raushniyoñ kī raah
har jānib be-nūr khaḌī hai hijr kī shahr-panāh
thak kar har sū baiTh rahī hai shauq kī maand sipāh
aaj mirā dil fikr meñ hai
ai raushniyoñ ke shahr
shab-ḳhūñ se muñh pher na jaa.e armānoñ kī rau
ḳhair ho terī lailāoñ kī un sab se kah do
aaj kī shab jab diye jalā.eñ ūñchī rakkheñ lau
City of Lights
On each patch of green, from one shade to the next,
the noon is erasing itself by wiping out all color,
becoming pale, desolation everywhere,
the poison of exile painted on the walls.
In the distance,
there are terrible sorrows, like tides:
they draw back, swell, become full, subside.
They've turned the horizon to mist.
And behind that mist is the city of lights,
my city of many lights.
How will I return to you, my city,
where is the road to your lights? My hopes
are in retreat, exhausted by these unlit, broken walls,
and my heart, their leader, is in terrible doubt.
But let all be well, my city, if under
cover of darkness, in a final attack,
my heart leads its reserves of longings
and storms you tonight. Just tell all your lovers
to turn the wicks of their lamps high
so that I may find you, Oh city,
my city of many lights.
sabza sabza sukh rahi hai phiki zard dopahar
diwaron ko chaT raha hai tanhai ka zahr
dur ufuq tak ghaTti baDhti uThti rahti hai
kohr ki surat be-raunaq dardon ki gadli lahr
basta hai is kohr ke pichhe raushniyon ka shahr
ai raushniyon ke shahr
kaun kahe kis samt hai teri raushniyon ki rah
har jaanib be-nur khaDi hai hijr ki shahr-panah
thak kar har su baiTh rahi hai shauq ki mand sipah
aaj mera dil fikr mein hai
ai raushniyon ke shahr
shab-KHun se munh pher na jae armanon ki rau
KHair ho teri lailaon ki un sab se kah do
aaj ki shab jab diye jalaen unchi rakkhen lau
City of Lights
On each patch of green, from one shade to the next,
the noon is erasing itself by wiping out all color,
becoming pale, desolation everywhere,
the poison of exile painted on the walls.
In the distance,
there are terrible sorrows, like tides:
they draw back, swell, become full, subside.
They've turned the horizon to mist.
And behind that mist is the city of lights,
my city of many lights.
How will I return to you, my city,
where is the road to your lights? My hopes
are in retreat, exhausted by these unlit, broken walls,
and my heart, their leader, is in terrible doubt.
But let all be well, my city, if under
cover of darkness, in a final attack,
my heart leads its reserves of longings
and storms you tonight. Just tell all your lovers
to turn the wicks of their lamps high
so that I may find you, Oh city,
my city of many lights.
Source:
Nuskha Hai Wafa (Pg. 262)
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