the voice cannot carry the tongue and the lips that gave it wings...

alone must it seek the ether...

and alone and without his nest shall the eagle fly across the sun...


--- gibran

यूँ लगा के गरीबी की रेखा से में हु बलन्द....


पुछा हाल जो किसीने ऐसी अदा के साथ..... ।

there must be sumthing strangely sacred in salt.. it is in the sea as well as in the tears... 

--khalil gibran

hamne dekhi hai
in ankhon ki mehak ki khusboo
haath se choo ke
ise rishton ka
ilzaam na do...

lucknow.. kaifi aazmi

one of my favorite ones... 

azaa mein behatey they aasoon yahaan lahoo toh nahi; 

yeh koi aur jagah hogi, mera lucknow toh nahi...

yahaan toh chalti hai churriyan zubaan se pehle,

yeh meer 'anees' ki, 'aatash' ki guftagoo toh nahi...

tapak raha hai zakhmon se jo donon firrko ke;

bagaur dekho yeh islam ka lahoo toh nahi...

tum iska rakh lo koi aur naam moujoo-sa;

kiyaa hai khoon jo tumne woh wajoo toh nahi...

boojha rahein hai jisse aap apney daaman mein;

kahi woh aap hi ki shama-e-aarzoo toh nahi...

samajh ke maal mera jisko tumney loota hai;

padosiyon! woh tumhari hi aabroo toh nahi....

translation: 

tears have flowed here in sorrow, but never blood,

this must be some other place, or lucknow could it be?

here knives move faster than tounges can aspire,

the language of Mir 'Anees' and 'Atash' could it be?

the blood that drips from the wounds of both communities,

examine it carefully, Islam's blood could it be?

give it any other name that you consider apt,

what you have done in blood, ablution could it be?

this that you extinguish with your own garment,

the flame of your dreams for the morrow could it be?

all you have looted thinking it mine,

o neighbours, your own honour could it be?  

humein unse wafaa ki hai ummeed... 

jo jaantey hi nahi wafaa kya hai...

--- ghalib.

aaj jaane ki zid na karo

a ghazal by farida khanum... 

Aaj jaane ki zid na karo (3)
Yunhi pehloo mein baithe raho (2)
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo
Haay mar jaayenge, hum to lut jaayenge
Aisi baatein kiya na karo
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo (2)
Haay mar jaayenge, hum to lut jaayenge
Aisi baatein kiya na karo
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo

Tum hi socho zara, kyun na roke tumhe
Jaan jaati hai jab uth ke jaate ho tum (2)
Tumko apni qasam jaan-e-jaan
Baat itni meri maan lo
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo
Yunhi pehloo mein baithe raho (2)
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo
Haay mar jaayenge, hum to lut jaayenge
Aisi baatein kiya na karo
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo

Waqt ki qaid mein zindagi hai magar (2)
Chand ghadiyan yehi hain jo aazad hain (2)
Inko khokar mere jaan-e-jaan
Umr bhar na taraste raho
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo
Haay mar jaayenge, hum to lut jaayenge
Aisi baatein kiya na karo
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo

Kitna maasoom rangeen hai yeh sama
Husn aur ishq ki aaj mein raaj hai (2)
Kal ki kisko khabar jaan-e-jaan
Rok lo aaj ki raat ko
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo
Yunhi pehloo mein baithe raho (2)
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo
Haay mar jaayenge, hum to lut jaayenge
Aisi baatein kiya na karo
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo