Kabhi hum khoobsoorat they

#poetatheart 

kabhī ham ḳhūb-sūrat the 

kitāboñ meñ basī 

ḳhushbū kī sūrat 

saañs sākin thī 

bahut se an-kahe lafzoñ se 

tasvīreñ banāte the 

parindoñ ke paroñ par nazm likh kar 

duur kī jhīloñ meñ basne vaale 

logoñ ko sunāte the 

jo ham se duur the 

lekin hamāre paas rahte the 

na.e din kī masāfat 

jab kiran ke saath 

āñgan meñ utartī thī 

to ham kahte the 

ammī titliyoñ ke par 

bahut hī ḳhūb-sūrat haiñ 

hameñ māthe pe bosā do 

ki ham ko titliyoñ ke 

jugnuoñ ke des jaanā hai 

hameñ rañgoñ ke jugnū 

raushnī kī titliyāñ āvāz detī haiñ 

na.e din kī masāfat 

rañg meñ Duubī havā ke saath 

khiḌkī se bulātī hai 

hameñ māthe pe bosā do 

hameñ māthe pe bosā do

( Ahmed Shamim ) 

in her loving gaze, we were beautiful

like the fragrance that settles inside books , 

tranquility resided in our breath 

we painted pictures with words never said, 

and the verses we wrote perched 

on the wings of birds that flew to far off lands, across the lakes, 

where lived those who were close to the heart, though distant.

At dawn, when a new day , riding the rays of the sun, would descend 

into the courtyard , we would say , Ma, are the wings of butterflies not beautiful 

Bless us, Ma, with a kiss on the forehead, for we must venture 

into the land of butterflies and glow worms 

--- they beckon, with hues incandescent  

As the new day would descend , bathed in color, the breeze would 

summon us through the window 

And we would say, said , Ma, bless us, with a kiss on the forehead

( translation : Priya VKS )

11/09/2022