Hare hare baans kata more angna...

I am a coke studio fan (both India and Pakistan versions of it). I know! I know, the Pakistan one is better as Indian one has too much bollywood involvement. But for me coke studio is one. Anyway, I wait eagerly for its new seasons. Currently watching season 8 and the music is superlative to say the least. However I was disappointed to hear this particular song-

Excellent singing, brilliant music but no attention paid on the lyrics. It's Amir Khusro's kalaam. A folk 'Shaadi Geet'. Here are the lyrics-

Hare-hare baans kata more angna, neeka mandha chhawao re

Parbat baans manga, more baabul, kanu mandha chhawao re

Sagre najoomi, jyotishi; baabul, sabka bhej bulao re

Jaiso laadli bitiya, re baabul; waisa hi kaaj rachao re

Mandhe oopar, kalas viraaje, dekhe raja rao re...

I don't remember the next line of this couplet but its definitely not what these singers here are singing. None of it makes any sense. I wish they do a little research before recording a song which is something that is going to go into the musical database of our time and will serve as a reference to the future generation of music.

Edit(20.02.2016):
I found these two versions of the song in Mehnaz Begum's (thanks to @drkns on twitter :) and  Bilqees Khanum/Ishrat Jehan's voices. 

http://gaana.com/artist/bilqees-khanum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbEp2646Gv8

Listening to it repeatedly helped me understand a few more lines. Though there are a few words which are still not very clear to me. 

Mandhe oopar, kalas viraaje, dekhe raja rao re
Ghode haathi soha deena, baabul dil dariyao(?) re

Ek na deeni sar ko ri kanghi, mori saas bol bolat hai
Sona bhi deena ropa bhi deena; deena (or 'Dee-Na') chatar(?) charhao re

Sab kahan kuchh lala-o-gul mein... Ghalib

An Urdu literature student friend of mine once told me that according to his teacher "Ghalib ki is ghazal ko parh aur samajh lena, poori Urdu shayari ko samajh lene ke barabar hai!"


Sab kahan, kuch, lala-o-gul (tulips and roses) mein numayan (apparent) ho gayin;
Khaak mein kya suratein hongi ke pinhaan (hidden) ho gayin.

Yaad thi hamko bhi ranga rang bazm-aaraaiyan (colourful gathering arrangements);

lekin ab naqsh-o-nigaar-e-taaq-e-nisiyaan (portraits and paintings on the niche of memory) ho gayin.

Thien banatunnaash-e-gardun (ursa minor - a constellation in the sky) din ko parde mein nihaan (hidden);
Shab (night) ko un ke jee mein kya aai k uriyaan (naked) ho gayin.

Qaid mein Yaqub (Jacob) ne lee go na Yusuf (Joseph) ki khabar;

lekin aankhen rauzan-e-diwar-e-zindan (window in the wall of the prison) ho gayin.

Sab raqeebon (rivals) se hon nakhush (unhappy), par zanan-e-misr (ladies of Egypt) se;
Hai zulaikha (the Egyptian queen who loved Joseph) khush ke mahw-e-maah-e-kanaan (lost in the moon of the city of Kanaan) ho gayin

Joo-e-khoon (river of blood) aankhon se bahne do ki hai shaam-e-firaq (evening of separation);

Main ye samjhunga ke shammen (candles) do-farozan (luminous) ho gayin.

In parizaadon (beautiful (angel-like) bodies) se lenge khuld (heaven) mein ham inteqaam;

Qudrat-e-Haq (truth of Almighty) se yahi hooren (fairies) agar vaan (there) ho gayin.

Neend us ki hai, dimaagh uska hai, raatein uski hain;
Teri zulfein (hair locks) jiske baazu (shoulder) par pariishaan (dispersed) ho gayin.

Main chaman (garden) mein kya gaya, goya (as if) dabistan (school) khul gaya

Bulbulein (nightingales) sun kar mere naale (lamentations), gazalkhwan (ghazal singers) ho gayin.

Wo nigahein kyun hui jati hain yaarab dil ke paar;
Jo meri kotaahi-e-qismat (slow fortune) se mizshgan (eye-lashes) ho gayin.

Bas! ke roka main ne aur seene mein ubhrin (emerged) pai-ba-pai (again and again);

Meri aahen bakhiya-e-chaak-e-gariban (stitches of the ripped collar) ho gayin.

Vaan gaya bhi main to unki galiyon ka kya jawab;
Yaad thi jitni duaein, sarf-e-darban (the doorkeeper's utility) ho gayin.

Jaan-fiza (lively) hai baada (wine) jis k hath mein jaam (peg) a gaya;
Sab lakiirein haath ki goya (as if) rag-e-jan (jugular vein) ho gayin.

Ham muwahhid (believing in one God) hain, hamara kesh (nature) hai tark-e-rusum (abandonment of customs);
Millatein (communities) jab mit gayin, ajza-e-iman (elements of faith) ho gayin.

Ranj (sadness) se khugar (accustomed) hua insaan to mit jata hai ranj;

Mushkilein mujh par parin itni ke aasaan ho gayin.

Yun hi gar rota raha 'Ghalib', to ae ahl-e-jahan (people of the world);
Dekhna in bastiyon ko tum ki veeran (deserted) ho gayin...

Gham mujhe hasrat mujhe...

Gham mujhe, hasrat (longing) mujhe, wahshat (fear) mujhe, sauda (frenzy/madness) mujhe;
ek dil deke khudaa ne de diya kya kya mujhe.

Hai husuul-e-aarzoo (acquisition of a desire) ka raaz tark-e-aarzoo (discard of desire);
main ne duniya chhor di to mil gayi duniya mujhe.

kah ke soya hoon ye apne iztaraab-e-shauq (restlessness of love) se;
jab vo aayen qabr par, fauran jagaa denaa mujhe.

subah tak kya kya terii ummeed ne taane diye;
aa gaya tha shaam-e-gham ik neend ka jhonkaa mujhe.

ye namaaz-e-ishq (worship of love) hai, kaisa adab (etiquette) kiska adab?
apne paa-e-naaz (delicate feet) par karne bhi do sajdaa mujhe.

dekhte hi dekhte duniya se main uth jaaunga;
dekhti ki dekhti rah jaayegi duniya mujhe!!

~Seemab Akbarabadi

Sar mein sauda bhi nahin....

Sar mein sauda (madness) bhi nahin dil mein tamanna (desire) bhi nahin,
lekin is tark-e-mohabbat (separation)* ka bharosa (assurance/guarantee) bhi nahin.

Yun to hungaame (hue and cry) uthaate nahin deewana-e-ishq (mad lovers),
magar ai dost kuch aison ka thikaana bhi nahin.

Muddatein (ages) guzrin teri yaad bhi aayi na hamein,
aur hum bhool gaye hon tujhe aisa bhi nahin.

Ye bhi sach hai ke mohabbat pe nahin main majboor,
ye bhi sach hai ke tera husn (beauty) kuch aisa bhi nahin.

Dil ki ginti na yagaanon (acquaintance) mein na be-gaanon (strangers) mein,
lekin is jalvaa-gaah-e-naaz (place where splendor of the beloved is on display) se uthta bhi nahin.

Bad-gumaan (unsuspicious) ho ke mil ai dost jo milna hai tujhe,
ye jhijhakte huwe milna koi milna bhi nahin.

Shikwa-e-jaur (complaint of oppression) kare kya koi us shokh (mischevious) se jo,
saaf qaayal (favouring) bhi nahin saaf mukarta (denying) bhi nahin.

Meherbani (kindness) ko mohabbat nahin kehte, Ai Dost,
Aah! mujh se to teri ranjish-e-bejaa (uncalled for anger) bhi nahin.

Baat ye hai ke sukoon-e-dil-e-vehshi (peace of the crazy heart) ka maqaam (place),
kunj-e-zindaan (corner of a prison) bhi nai vusa'at-e-sehra (vastness of desert) bhi nahin.

Tumne poochha bhi nahi humne bataaya bhi nahin,
kaun sa raaz wo aisa tha ki jaana bhi nahin.

Tujhse sambhlein to sambhaal apne hijaab-e-bebaak (open veil),
Main uthaata had-e-aadaab (limit of politeness) tamaasha bhi nahin.

Haaye, wo raaz-e-muhabbat (secret of love) jo chhupaye na bane!
Haaye, wo daagh-e-muhabbat (scar) jo ubharta bhi nahin!

Aah! ye majma-e-ahbaab (crowd of relatives) ye bazm-e-khaamosh (silent gathering),
Aaj mahfil mein Firaaq-e-sukhan-aaraa (Firaaq-The poet) bhi nahin.

Munh se hum apne bura to nahin kehte ke, 'Firaaq',
hai tera dost magar aadmi achha bhi nahin...

~Firaaq Gorakhpuri
Singer - Tina Sani

Ye jo raig-e-dasht-e-firaaq hai...

Ye jo raig-e-dasht-e-firaaq (sands of the desert of anxeity) hai,
ye ruke agar...

Ye ruke agar to nishaan (marks) mile;
ye nishaan mile,
ke jo faaslon ki saleeb (cross) hai
ye gadi hui hai kahaan kahaan.

Mere aasmaan se kidhar gayi tere iltefaat (benevolance) ki kehkashaan (galaxy).

Mere Bekhabar (ignorant), mere Benishaan (untracable),
ye ruke agar to pata chale
main tha kis nagar, tu raha kahan.

Ke zamaan-o-makaan (time and space) ki vus'atein (vastness)
tujhe dekhne ko taras gayin.

Wo mere naseeb ki barishein, 

kisi aur chhat pe baras gayin.

Mere chaar suu (all four sides) hai ghubaar-e-jaan ( dust storm of life), wo fishaar-e-jaan (pressure of life)...
ke khabar nahin mere haath ko mere haath ki.

Mere khwaab se tere baam (window) tak,
teri rehguzar ka to zikr kya,
nahin zaufishaan (clear/luminous) tera naam tak.

Hain dhuaan dhuaan mere ustakhwan (bones).
Mere aansuon mein bujhe hue mere ustakhwan.

Mere naqshgar (painter), mere naqsh-e-jaan (painting of life)!

Isi raig-e-dasht-e-firaaq mein rahe muntazir (waiting);
tere muntazir;
mere khwaab jin ke fishaar mein
rahi mere haal se bekhabar
teri rehguzar.

Teri rehguzar ke jo naqsh (marks) hain mere haath per,
magar is bala ki hai teergi (darkness)
ke khabar nahin mere haath ko mere haath ki.

Wo jo chashm-e-shobeda-saaz (eyes of the illusionist) thi wo uthe agar;
mere ustakhwan mein ho raushni.

Usi aik lamha-e-deed (moment of sight) mein teri rehguzar
meri teera-jaan (dark soul) mein chamak uthe.

Mere khwaab se tere baam tak
sabhi manzaron mein damak uthe.

Usi aik pal mein ho jaavidaan (eternity),
meri arzoo, ke hai be-karaan (vast),
meri zindagi ke hai mukhtasar (short).

Ye jo raig-e-dasht-e-firaaq hai, ye ruke agar

~Amjad Islam Amjad

Koi tasweer mukammal nahi hone paayi...

Ab jo dekhein to koi aisi badi baat na thi;

Ye shab-o-roz (nights and days), mah-o-saal (months and years) ka purpaich (intricate) safar
qadr-e-aasaan (in easy proportion) bhi ho sakta tha!

Ye jo har mod pe kuchh uljhe hue raaste hain,
in mein tarteeb (order) ka imkaan (chance) bhi ho sakta tha.

Hum zara dhyaan se chalte
to woh ghar
jis ke
baam-o-dar-o-deewaar (windows and doors and walls) pe veeraani (emptiness) hai,
jis ki har subah mein shaamo ki pareshaani hai,
uss mein ham chain se aabaad bhi ho sakte the.

Bakht (destiny) se amn (peace) ki raahein bhi nikal sakthi thien.
Waqt se sulah (peace) ka paimaan (commitment) bhi ho saktha tha.

Ab jo dekhein to bahut saaf nazar aate hain;
saare manzar (scenes) bhi
pas-e-manzar (behind the scenes) bhi.

Lekin is der-khayaali (late realization) ka sila (result) kya hoga?

Ye to sab baad ki baatein hain, Meri Jaan, inhein
dekhte, sochte rehne se bhala kya hoga?

Woh jo hona tha, hua; ho bhi chuka!

Waqt ki loh (paper) pe likhi hui tehreer (script) ke harf (letters/words)
Khat-e-tanseekh (writing of cancellation) se waqif (aware) hi nahi
Bakht maktab (school) ke register ki tarah hota hai;
apne number pe jo "Labbaik!" ("I answer you!") nahi keh paate,
un ka kucch uzr (excuse) nahi... koi bhi faryaad (appeal) nahi!

Ye wo taa'ir (birds) hain jinhein apni nawa (sound/voice) yaad nahi.

Line-ein (lines) kat’ti rahin, lafz badalne ke sabab (reason)
Koi tehreer musalsal (continue) nahi hone paayi
Haasil-e-umr (yield of life) - yahi chand (a few) adhoore khaake (sketches)
Koi tasweer mukammal (complete) nahi hone paayi...

~Amjad Islam Amjad

Satellite

A video of time lapse images of earth taken from NASA's ISS inspired me to write down a few lines, which Im not sure can be called a poem.

From not so far
from a man-made star
looking down
under the white blankets
between those sparkling lights
somewhere we exist

Fighting each other
marking lines on the land
worrying who owns what
who's colour is different than ours

From the man-made star
it all looks one
On that sparkling globe
I almost don’t exist
Wonder why we bother
when so small is our existence
Almost insignificant!