Bashir Badr - VI

This is the last post on Bashir Badr [for now, at least :-) ]

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Isi shahar mei.n kaii saal se mere kuch kariibii ajeez hai.n
Unhei.n meri kuch khabar nahii.n mujhe unka kuch pataa nahii.n

Many of my near and dear ones reside in the same city since years
They have no news of me, and I have no knowledge about them

Ah, how true. It is indeed a selfish world – people forget all about others until they need them …

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Kabhi dhoop de kabhi badliyaa.n dil-o-jaan se dono kabool hai.n
Magar us mahal mei.n na kaid kar jahaa.n zindagi ki havaa na ho

Tere akhtiyaar mei.n kya nahii.n mujhe is tarah se navaaz de
Yuu.n duyaaei.n meri kabool ho.n mere lab pe koii duaa na ho

Give me sunshine, give me clouds, I accept both whole-heartedly
But do not imprison me in a palace that does not get the breath of life

What is beyond your power? Bless me in such a way
My prayers are accepted so that there is no prayer on my lips

These couplets depict another beautiful aspect of [urdu/hindi] poetry – an address to the Lord, whom you believe in, whom you accept as all-knowing, all powerful, and yet to whom you can complain, request about His world …
The idea of the first couplet here is not a novel one, but the presentation definitely is. And it reminds me of another thing about which I have wondered a few times – in Indian poetry, ‘dhoop’ (sunshine) represents hardships, while clouds are synonymous with relief or pleasant times. From my impression based on a rather limited knowledge, the symbols are used in an opposite way in English poetry. Something to do with our tropical summers? ;-)
The second line in the second couplet is quite interesting, I could make two different interpretations out of it (which seem rather opposite) 
- Accept my prayer so that I do not have a need to have more prayers, i.e. all my wishes are fulfilled before I seek their fulfilment
- My prayer is that I do not have any prayer – I want to be completely content with what I have, and do not wish for anything more

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Ik dooje se mil kar poore hote hai.n
Aadhi aadhi ek kahani ham dono

Mai.n dehleej ka deepak hoo.n aa tez havaa
Raat gujaarei.n apni apni ham dono

We are complete when we meet each other
We are two halves of a story

I am the lamp of the doorstep, come o strong wind
Let us both spend the night in our own pursuits

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