Ae Roshnion ke Shahar
by
Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Sabza sabza sookh rahi hai, phiki zard dopahar
Deewaaron ko chaat rahaa hai tanhaai ka zahar
Door ufaq tak ghat-ti, badhti, utth-ti, girti rahti hai
Kohr ki soorat be-raunak dardon ki gandli lahar
Bastaa hai us kohr ke peeche roshnion ka shahar
Ae Roshnion ke shahar
Kaun kahe kis simt hai teri roshnion ki raah
Har jaanib be-noor khadi hai hijr ki shaharpanaah
Thak-kar har soo baith rahi hai shouk ki maand sipaah
Aaj mera dil fikr mein hai
Ae Roshnion ke shahar
Shabkhoon se munh pher na jaaye armaanon ki rau
Khair ho teri Lailaaon ki un sab se keh do
Aaj ki shab jab diye jalaayein, oonchi rakhein lau
Lahore Jail/ Montgomery Jail
28th March- 15th April 1954
O City of Lights
translated by
Mustansir Dalvi
Each leaf shrivels as this grim afternoon wanes,
the venom of loneliness licks the walls of this city;
like colour-leached fog, muddy waves of pain
rise and fall and rise like tides as far as the eye can see,
and behind the miasma lies hidden this city of lights.
O City of Lights!
Who can say where the path to your illumination lies,
everywhere I see lightless bastions of separation rise.
Everywhere, my ardour slumps like soldiers fatigued.
There’s a worry nestled in my breast,
O City of Lights!
Let latent desire not flee before this night-assault.
Stay safe, Lailas all, go and tell them this- tonight
when you light your lamps, keep the flame on high.
Lahore Jail/ Montgomery Jail
28th March- 15th April 1954
Translation and Transliteration © Mustansir Dalvi, 2014, All rights reserved.