Harf

Harf (Urdu): Alphabet

Gar main tanha hota toh apni zindagi ke fasaane likh sakta,

Magar tumhari yaadon me main yun behek gaya ki ek harf na likh paya.

*****

 I asked Archit to translate this for me so I could put the translation up for you guys…and he did two beautiful versions of this and said I could use either…But both of them are such amazing pieces I wish to share them both… The translations both have different metrics but that’s a poetic license I allow and appreciate very much! Also, if you can read and understand Hindi/Urdu, then you will immediately realize that the translations are not entirely true to the couplet I have written but the beauty and honestly with which this moment has been captured in in the translations is more valuable to me than the words themselves 🙂

*****

In my solace, I may find the words,
to scribble the tale of my years,
But the thought of you, your memories,
replace each letter with tears.

*****

Words, like the tears,

unseen, unheard,

roll down to

the paper.

I figure,

in my cruel

solace, I’d word,

the story of my years.

Yet alone, my love, I am not,

for not a letter,

nor a word,

I write.

Despite

this world,

I still surrender,

to the relish of your thought.

This particular translation is Archit’s attempt at the Hourglass (a metric Bushka came up with) but minus the strict rules of syllables that Bushka likes to follow 🙂

*****

If you are a fan of shayeri, feel free to drop your favourite ones in the comments along with how you liked mine.