Original Urdu
tum jo naa aa'e the to har chiiz vahii thii kih jo hai
aasmaaN hadd-e-nazar, raahguzar raahguzar, shiishaah-e-mai,
shiishaah-e-mai
aur ab shiishaah-e-mai, raahguzar, rang-e-falak
rang hai dil kaa mere, "khoon-e-jigar hone tak"
champaa'i rang kabhii, raahat-e-diidaar kaa rang
sur'ma'ii rang kabhii, saa'at-e-bezaar kaa rang
zard pattoN kaa xas-o-xaar kaa rang
surkh phuuloN kaa, dahakte hu'e gulzaar kaa rang
zahar kaa rang, lahuu rang. shab-e-taar kaa rang
aasmaaN, rahguzar, shiishaah-e-mai
koii bhiigaa hu'aa daaman, ko'ii dukhtii hu'ii rag
ko'ii har lahzaah badaltaa hu'aa aa'iinaah hai
ab jo aa'e ho to Thahro kih koii rang, koii rut ko'ii shai
ek jagah par Thahre
phir se ik baar har ik chiiz vahii ho ke jo hai
aasmaaN hadd-e-nazar, rahguzar rahguzar, shiishaah-e-mai,
shiishaah-e-mai
English Translation by Naomi Lazard
Before you came things were just what they were:
the road precisely a road, the horizon fixed,
the limit of what could be seen,
a glass of wine was no more than a glass of wine.
With you the world took on the spectrum
radiating from my heart: your eyes gold
as they open to me, slate the color
that falls each time I lost all hope.
With your advent roses burst into flame:
you were the artist of dried-up leaves, sorceress
who flicked her wrist to change dust into soot.
You lacquered the night black.
As for the sky, the road, the cup of wine:
one was my tear-drenched shirt,
the other an aching nerve,
the third a mirror that never reflected the same thing.
Now you are here again—stay with me.
This time things will fall into place;
the road can be the road,
the sky nothing but sky;
the glass of wine, as it should be, the glass of wine.
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Comments
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Faiz the Genius
From guest Vaqar Ahmad Khan (contact)
I agree here that even though in all translations the beauty of poetry is compromised to a great extent but then what is the alternative when language is the barrier. I think rather than picking holes we should be grateful to someone who has translated the work of a genius to ensure that others in the world can be introduced to the genius's work. Daud Kemal is another one who translated work of Faiz. I have had the good fortune of meeting with Faiz Ahmad Faiz since he was a good friend of my father Prof Hamid Ahmad Khan and I am sure , the kind of person that he was , he would also agree that it is better to have something than nothing and not make an angry face that someone has worked to destroy his work. I feel the translation here is good enough and I liked it. Vaqar Ahmad Khan ravianswindon@hotmail.com -
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Not so Bad.
Dear tanvirahmedsiddiqui thanks for the critical note. I have compared the translation with the original Urdu version. I believe, though it’s not the literal translation yet it is very close to the meanings. So I think the translation is quite reasonable and we have to rely on it unless a more closer translation is found. -
with due respects
From guest tanvirahmedsiddiqui (contact)
I am afraid the respected translator has simply screwed the wholesome concept and meanings and manifestations of urdu expression. Who approved this very poor translation I dont know. -
Before You Came - The Poem
From guest john (contact)
A glass of wine is just that, a glass of wine. But seen through the eyes of a loved one it is more than just a glass of wine...its magic. Faiz was a great poet...and this poems is as great as its writer -
This is an intense piece, very hot, that speaks of an overwhelming love. A love that changed the ordinary things of the world into objects filled with radiant light. A love that began as a flame which consumed the lover. The last stanza seems to suggest that she left and has now returned and he hopes that she will stay this time. Breathless in the pacing up to the point of his asking her to "stay with me". The translator did very well rendering the emotion and passion here.
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really, it is nice poem, gazals and your comment
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yess
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