I don’t know what attracts me to Urdu…but something does. It is a language close to my heart, a language in which I think…a language I deeply admire…for its beauty and charm!
Here are a few of my attempts with Shayeri (scroll to the end to know what that is)! Along with the Shayeri is its translation in English, with some poetic license of course! Eager to know what you think of some Urdu Shayeri!
Log kehte hain ke duniya se acchai ka janaza nikal gaya,
Magar humne dekha ke khuda ne tumhare zariye use rokne ka bahana dhund liya!
They say the good in the hearts of men so wistfully, briskly wanes
But I have seen the will of God, through you the goodness remains!
*****
Log hume manzilon ke khaab dikhakar bole, “Ye manzil sabse unchi hai!”
Hum bole “Janaab, hum to yahan khushiyan dhundne aaye hain!”
They talked to me about goals and ambitions and told me of one, “That’s the biggest of all!”
I turned to politely say to them, “I come here looking for happiness, know you not?”
*****
Tum apni saanson se hum me jaan phoonkte raho
Taki hum apni saanson me tumhari khushboo kaid kar rakh saken!
Will you keep breathing into me new life, with each breath of yours,
So I can take in how you smell, and never breathe out once more!
*****
Unke pyaar ka junoon kuch yun tha jaanab,
Ki ghanton ke intezaar ka lutf bhi hum sadiyon tak uthate rahe!
An hour of wait, this heart of mine aches, have centuries passed me as I missed thee?
Such is the love, the fire thou stroked, even anticipation I taketh with a pinch of glee!
*****
Use pane ke liye har maidan par fateh pane ki koshish ki
Ki hath maangne se pehle nazar milane ke kabil ho jaun
Jeetkar uski taraf mudkar dekha toh uski sirf parchhai zameen par padi
Aur uski awaz kanon me goonjti rahi… “Shaheenon ko aasman par fateh karne ka shauk hota hai, zameen par raj karne ka nahin!”
I defeated all men and went on to rule all lands
So she would see me fit for her love, and let me hold her hand
I turned to find a mere shadow of hers, sprawled on the turf
And her voice reverberated into my ear, “Falcons like to soar high and conquer the skies, not rule the lands of mortal men!”
*****
Shayeri… many say it translates directly to ‘poetry’ in Urdu. It is a form of poetry that found its structure in Arabic and/or Persian origins. A complex language, Urdu borrows elements from Persian, Arabic and Hindi primarily. Shayeri is a form of Urdu poetry that is usually written in couplets or at the most has 4 lines. Shayeri is usually written to express feelings that arise in the depth of a person’s heart and it’s beauty lies in the fact that such meaning and sentiment is encompassed in but a few words. The reason I am attracted to Shayeri, is for its profound implications, lingering thought and no bars on the word/character limit. It’s a free form of poetry that follows a rhyme but no strict rules for how it is written.
Click here to read more about the origins of Shayeri… You can also find more information on Wikipedia and in the online version of a book by T. Grahame Bailey called A History of Urdu Literature (click here).
“Janaab, hum to yahan khushiyan dhoondne aaye hain…” Love this musing on the discrepancy between material ‘success’ and true lasting fulfilment! 🙂 Aap ki shayeri parh ke bohoth acha laga Aishwarya 🙂 Kash mujhe bhi itni shayarani Urdu aati to mein bhi likhti! 😀
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Oh that is very kind of you! My Urdu isn’t great…I’m self taught…but I’d like to believe I picked up well 🙂 I’m so glad you took the time out to read my post! Bahot shukriya 🙂 Agar aap jaise padhne wale is taraf aate rahen toh hum apni shayeri khushi se yahan pesh karenge 🙂
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Hum bhi self-taught logon mein se hai… High five! 😉
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Haha… High five 😉
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Mmmm….I can see why you are attracted to Shayeri….
I like these lines…
“Will you keep breathing into me new life, with each breath of yours,
So I can take in how you smell, and never breathe out once more!”
Hugs! ❤
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Thanks Bushka…again I apologise for the linguistic limitations. But I am glad the translations reached out to you just as well! I may have done a good job with them then! 😉 Lots of love!
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Thanks Aishwarya! Loved your Gravitas picture…but you changed it again…. 😉 Hugs! ❤ ❤
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I never had a gravitas picture 😮 but I should probably put up one!
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Must have confused it with another….Will await your one… 😉
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Haha… I will put a face to my name soon 😉
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Looking forward…. 😉 Hugs!
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Poetry for those in love with God – love it! 🙂
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Thank you so much for stopping by! Your comments are valuable! 🙂
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You’re very welcome. 🙂
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I shall stop by your site soon! 🙂
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Do take your time – and be sure to dress up warm when you do – it is only spring here and so is 15 degrees C even at midday. 🙂
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Ah while you enjoy a cool spring, India is burning up at 45 degrees C! Incredible heat all around! Looking forward to reading your stuff… Cheers!
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Someone told me that it reached 54 in some places. I just can’t imagine.
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waah g waah……….
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Bahot shukriya!!! 🙂
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Nice shayeris…our heart sometimes craves to write in Hindi and some Urdu maybe..and the way the words sound in Urdu is very likeable..here is one of mine..
Wo ladkhadate hue khayaal Jo shabd naa ban paaye, ab khoye h hawao me…cheekhte h kaano me…dhoondte h apna wazood..shayad kuch kehna chahte h…beshak koshish Ki thi magar unko awaaz nhi de paaye..
Keep writing
Regards
Shreyans
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Wow, yours is beautiful!!! 🙂 thanks for stopping by and for sharing your shayeri!
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Thank you!!!
Regards
Shreyans
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https://shreyanssite.wordpress.com/2016/05/25/just-imagination/
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Thanks shreyans, I’ll definitely stop by!
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Yes…anytime..
Regards
Shreyans
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I love the language as well..though I understand the meanings well, I can’t read or write Urdu… sigh… I’ll learn it when I will retire and have plenty of time… 😀
Lovely compilation… 🙂
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Thank you so much for visiting. Well urdu is a language without a script.. It’s written in Arabic… So I think you understand urdu well enough.. Reading Arabic is something even I can’t do! I’m thinking of taking some time off of work soon… Maybe this is something I should take up then? 🙂
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Awesome! Wish my Urdu were good enough for me to truly appreciate the subtleties and nuances, but the English was mellifluous too! Great going, A! 👍👍
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Thank you so much for taking the time out to stop by K! 🙂
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My pleasure…
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This is beautiful! The feelings run deep and the words make music on the page. It made me want to learn Urdu now..
🙂 Dajena
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Aww that’s so sweet!!! I’ve been really looking forward to your comments for a while… Thank you so much for stopping by 🙂
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its unfortunate that i can only read the translations…!!! while i love them, i feel, i ve lost the true essence i would have otherwise gotten had i understood the shayari in its actual form!!!!
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I’m so sorry for the linguistic barrier that the post inherently has! Yes I agree that an original always has more meaning to offer than the translation, no matter how good the translation is. I’ve tried my best to do a good job though!!! Added to all that is the fact that shayeri sounds best when recited in urdu ; the feel is incredible! 🙂
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true..! n i dont mean to say the translation has lost its beauty.. i love the way the translation sounds, but am sure the original is a lot more beautiful, the way only the original can sound.. if u get what i mean! 🙂
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Yup I absolutely do 🙂 thanks for pausing at my blog Sudersan… It’s always lovely to have you read my work and have your opinion 🙂
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ah, u re being sweet! n its a pleasure to read ur articles! 🙂
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Beautiful!
Fantastic!
I love the thoughts. All said very good.
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Thank you so much for stopping by. Glad you liked the post! 🙂
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I am your avid reader. Keep posting. Thanks and your welcome
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Wow that’s sweet… I didn’t know you read my posts! 🙂 I’ll head by your blog soon. Cheers
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Good luck!
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Very sweetly written
This is the first time I have come across Hindi/Urdu shayari on some ones blog…feels great to see the talent pouring out..
Great job …keep writing 😊
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Such a sweet comment to leave behind! Thank you so much for encouraging me to write more in hindi…:-) gives me more reason to hold on to my love for that language…
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Same here☺️😊
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Same here…
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Loved it 👍👍
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Thank you. I’m so glad you enjoyed this one.
When people appreciate these tales, it makes me want to write more! Thank you for your encouragement 🙂
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Hi Aishwarya! Nice to read your work. I am also inclined towards Urdu. A poet once quoted,
‘Jeene ka haseen taur tareeka seekha,
Humne URDU ke bahane saleekha seekha.’
My blog: https://kirdaarhusain.wordpress.com/
Hope you like it
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I quite liked the couplet you shared 🙂
I haven’t written shayeri in a while, should definitely get into that!
I’ll visit your page soon. Thank you for stopping by mine. Cheers.
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My Pleasure. You should definitely try your hands at it. 🙂 Good Luck!
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The love Shayeri are so interesting and enticing, Aishwarya. I think they remind me of Shakespeare and his sonnets. ❤
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That’s a big big compliment you have given me there. I am only an amateur writer and if I could in some way remind you of Shakespeare’s work, I think I might be improving afterall 🙂
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These had a very mature and worldly meaning which was deep to think about! Thanks again for introducing this form to me, Aishwarya. 🙂
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Shayeri is a beautiful form of poetry and I am glad you enjoyed them. I am, once again, sorry for the language barrier. I hope the translations are some help 🙂
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