yahan se shahr ko dekho
yahāñ se shahr ko dekho to halqa-dar-halqa
khiñchī hai jel kī sūrat har ek samt fasīl
har ek rāhguzar gardish-e-asīrāñ hai
na sañg-e-mīl na manzil na muḳhlisī ki sabīl
The City from Here
jo koī tez chale rah to pūchhtā hai ḳhayāl
ki Tokne koī lalkār kyuuñ nahīñ aa.ī
jo koī haath hilā.e to vahm ko hai savāl
koī chhanak koī jhankār kyuuñ nahīñ aa.ī
When you look at the city from here,
this is its pattern: circles within circles,
each outer one a wall imprisoning the inner,
no escape in any direction. Each road,
each street seems viciously trapped, a prisoner
with no milestone, no destination,
and no occasion for fidelity.
yahāñ se shahr ko dekho to saarī ḳhilqat meñ
na koī sāhab-e-tamkīñ na koī vāli-e-hosh
har ek mard-e-javāñ mujrim-e-rasan-ba-gulū
har ik hasīna-e-rānā, kanīz-e-halqa-bagosh
When someone quickens his step, you think
at any moment he'll be ordered to halt.
When someone raises his arm, you wait
to hear the sudden chains of a handcuff.
jo saa.e duur charāġhoñ ke gird larzāñ haiñ
na jaane mahfil-e-ġham hai ki bazm-e-jām-o-subū
jo rañg har dar-o-dīvār par pareshāñ haiñ
yahāñ se kuchh nahīñ khultā ye phuul haiñ ki lahū
When you look at the city from here,
among the populace you see no one
with any dignity or pride. No one is aware.
Each young man walks like a criminal,
as if the scaffold's shadow were on his neck.
Every beautiful woman's bracelets mark her a slave.
yahan se shahr ko dekho to halqa-dar-halqa
khinchi hai jel ki surat har ek samt fasil
har ek rahguzar gardish-e-asiran hai
na sang-e-mil na manzil na muKHlisi ki sabil
The City from Here
jo koi tez chale rah to puchhta hai KHayal
ki Tokne koi lalkar kyun nahin aai
jo koi hath hilae to wahm ko hai sawal
koi chhanak koi jhankar kyun nahin aai
When you look at the city from here,
this is its pattern: circles within circles,
each outer one a wall imprisoning the inner,
no escape in any direction. Each road,
each street seems viciously trapped, a prisoner
with no milestone, no destination,
and no occasion for fidelity.
yahan se shahr ko dekho to sari KHilqat mein
na koi sahab-e-tamkin na koi wali-e-hosh
har ek mard-e-jawan mujrim-e-rasan-ba-gulu
har ek hasina-e-rana, kaniz-e-halqa-bagosh
When someone quickens his step, you think
at any moment he'll be ordered to halt.
When someone raises his arm, you wait
to hear the sudden chains of a handcuff.
jo sae dur charaghon ke gird larzan hain
na jaane mahfil-e-gham hai ki bazm-e-jam-o-subu
jo rang har dar-o-diwar par pareshan hain
yahan se kuchh nahin khulta ye phul hain ki lahu
When you look at the city from here,
among the populace you see no one
with any dignity or pride. No one is aware.
Each young man walks like a criminal,
as if the scaffold's shadow were on his neck.
Every beautiful woman's bracelets mark her a slave.
Source:
Nuskha Hai Wafa (Pg. 405)
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