Shikwa By Allama Muhammad Iqbal – The Complaint (Translated in English)
Shikwa in Urdu
Kyun Ziyaan Kaar Banun, Sood Framosh Rahun
Fikr-e-Farda Na Karum, Mahw-e-Ghum-e-Dosh Rahun
Naale Bulbul Ke Sunoon, Aur Hama Tan Gosh Rahun
Humnawa Main Bhi Koi Gul Hun Ke Khamosh Rahun
Jurrat Aamoz Miri Taab-e-Sakhun Hai Mujh Ko
Shikwa Allah Se Khakam Badahan Hai Mujh Ko
Hai Baja Shewa-e-Tasleem Mein Mashoor Hain Hum
Qissa-e-Dard Sunate Hain Ke Majboor Hain Hum
Saaz-e-Khamosh Hain, Faryad Se Maamoor Hain Hum
Nala Ata Hai Agar Lab Pe To Maazoor Hain Hum
Ae Khuda Shikwa-e-Arbab-e-Wafa Bhi Sun Le
Khugar-e-Hamd Se Thora Sa Gila Bhi Sun Le
Thi To Maujood Azal Se Hi Teri Zaat-e-Qadim
Phool Tha Zaib-e-Chaman, Par Na Preshan Thi Shamim
Shart Insaaf Hai, Ae Sahib-e-Altaf-e-Amim
Boo-e-Gul Phailti Kis Tarah Jo Hoti Na Nasim
Hum Ko Jamiat-e-Khatir Ye Preshani Thi
Warna Ummat Tere Mehboob (S.A.W.) Ki Diwani Thi
Hum Se Pehle Tha Ajab Tere Jahan Ka Manzar
Kahin Masjood The Pathar, Kahin Maabood Shajar
Khugar-e-Paikar-e-Mahsoos Thi Insaan Ki Nazar
Manta Phir Koi Un-Dekhe Khuda Ko Kyunkar
Tujh Ko Maalum Hai Leta Tha Koi Naam Tera?
Quwwat-e-Baazoo-e-Muslim Ne Kiya Kaam Tera
Bas Rahe The Yahin Saljuq Bhi, Toorani Bhi
Ahl-e-Chin Cheen Mein, Iran Mein Sasaani Bhi
Issi Maamoore Mein Aabad The Yoonani Bhi
Issi Dunya Mein Yahudi Bhi The, Nusraani Bhi
Par Tere Naam Pe Talwar Uthai Kis Ne
Baat Jo Bigri Huwi Thi, Woh Banaai Kis Ne
Thay Hameen Ek Tire Maarka Aaraaon Mein!
Khushkion Mein Kabhi Larte, Kabhi Dariyaon Mein,
Deen Azaanen Kabhi Europe Ke Kaleesaaon Mein
Kabhi Africa Ke Tapte Huwe Sehraaon Mein.
Shan Ankhon Mein Na Jachti Thi Jahan Daron Ki
Kalima Parhte The Hum Chaon Mein Talwaron Ki
Hum Jo Jeete Thay To Jnagon Ki Musibat Ke Liye
Aur Merte Thay Tere Naam Ki Azmat Ke Liye
Thi Na Kuch Taeg-Zani Apni Hukumat Ke Liye
Sar-Bakaf Phirte The Kya Dehar Mein Doulat Ke Liye
Qaum Apni Jo Zar-o-Maal-e-Jahan Par Marti,
But Faroshi Ke Iwaz But Shikni Kyon Karti?
Tal Na Sakte The Agar Jang Mein Arh Jate The
Paon Sheron Ke Bhi Maidan Se Ukhar Jate The
Tujh Se Sarkash Huwa Koi To Bighar Jate The
Taeg Kya Cheez Hai, Hum Toup Se Larh Jate The
Naqsh Tauheed Ka Har Dil Pe Bithaya Hum Ne
Zer-e-Khanjar Bhi Yeh Paigham Sunaya Hum Ne
Tu Hi Keh De Ke Ukhara Dar-e-Khyber Kis Ne
Sheher Qaiser Ka Jo Tha, Us Ko Kiya Sar Kis Ne
Tore Makhluq Khudawandon Ke Paikar Kis Ne
Kaat Kar Rakh Diye Kuffaar Ke Lashkar Kis Ne
Kis Ne Thanda Kiya Atishkuda-e-Iran Ko?
Kis Ne Phir Zinda Kiya Tazkara-e-Yazdaan Ko?
Kon Si Qoum Faqat Teri Talabgar Huwi
Aur Tere Liye Zehmat Kash-e-Paikaar Huwi
Kis Ki Shamsheer Jahangeer, Jahandar Huwi
Kis Ki Takbeer Se Dunya Teri Baidar Huwi
Kis Ki Haibat Se Sanam Sehme Huwe Rehte The
Munh Ke Bal Gir Ke ‘HU WA-ALLAH HU AHAD’ Kehte The
Aa Gaya Ain Laraai Mein Agar Waqt-e-Namaz
Qibla Ru Ho Ke Zameen Bos Huwi Qoum-e-Hijaz
Ek Hi Saf Mein Khare Ho Gaye Mahmood-o-Ayaz,
No Koi Banda Raha Aur Na Koi Banda Nawaz.
Banda-o-Sahib-o-Mauhtaaj-o-Ghani Aik Huwe
Teri Sarkar Mein Pohanche To Sabhi Aik Huwe
Mehfil-e-Kon-o-Makan Mein Sehar-o-Sham Phire
Mai-e-Tauheed Ko Lekar Sifat-e-Jam Phire
Koh Mein, Dasht Mein Le Kar Tera Pegham Phire
Aur Maaloom Hai Tujh Ko, Kabhi Nakaam Phire !
Dasht To Dasht Hain, Darya Bhi Na Chhore Hum Ne
Bahr-e-Zulmaat Mein Daura Diye Ghore Hum Ne
Safah-e-Dahar Se Baatil Ko Mitaya Hum Ne
Nau-e-Insaan Ko Ghulami Se Chhuraya Hum Ne
Tere Kaabe Ko Jabeenon Se Basaya Hum Ne
Tere Quran Ko Seenon Se Lagaya Hum Ne
Phir Bhi Hum Se Yeh Gila Hai Ke Wafadar Nahin
Hum Wafadar Nahin, Tu Bhi To Dildar Nahin!
Ummatain Aur Bhi Hain, In Mein Gunahgar Bhi Hain
Ejz Wale Bhi Hain, Mast-e-Mai-e-Pindar Bhi Hain
In Mein Kahil Bhi Hain, Ghafil Bhi Hain, Hushyar Bhi Hain
Saikron Hain Ke Tere Naam Se Baizar Bhi Hain
Rehmatain Hain Teri Aghiyar Ke Kashaanon Par
Barq Girti Hai To Bechare Musalmanon Par
Boott Sanam Khanon Mein Kehte Hain, Musalman Gye
Hai Khushi In Ko Ke Kaabe Ke Nigehban Gye
Manzil-e-dehr Se Unthon Ke Hudi Khawan Gye
Apni Baghlon Mein Dabaye Huwe Quran Gye
Khandah Zan Kufr Hai, Ehsas Tujhe Hai Ke Nahin
Apni Touheed Ka Kuch Paas Tujhe Hai Ke Nahin
Ye Shikayatt Nahin, Hain Un Ke Khazane Maamur
Nahin Mehfil Mein Jinhain Baat Bhi Karne Ka Shaur
Qehar To Ye Hai Ke Kafir Ko Milain Hoor-o-Qasoor
Aur Bechare Musalman Ko Faqat Wada-e-Hoor
Ab Woh Altaf Nahin, Hum Pe Anayat Nahin
Baat Ye Kya Hai Ke Pehli Si Madarat Nahin
Kyun Musalmanon Mein Hai Doulat-e-Dunya Nayaab
Teri Qudrat To Hai Woh Jis Ki Na Had Hai Na Hisab
Tu Jo Chahe To Uthe Seena-e-Sehra Se Habab
Rahroo-e-Dasht Ho Seeli Zada Mouj-e-Saraab
Taan-e-Aghiyaar Hai, Ruswai Hai, Nadaari Hai,
Kya Tere Nam Pe Marne Ka Iwaz Khwari Hai?
Bani Aghyar Ki Ab Chahne Wali Dunya
Reh Gyi Apne Liye Aik Khiyali Dunya
Hum To Rukhsat Huwe, Auron Ne Sanbhali Dunya
Phir Na Kehna Huwi Touheed Se Khali Dunya
Hum Tau Jeete Hain Ke Duniya Mein Tira Naam Rahe,
Kahin Mumkin Hai Saqi Na Rahe, Jaam Rahe?
Teri Mehfil Bhi Gai, Chahne Walw Bhi Gaye,
Shab Ki Aahen Bhi Gaien, Subah Ke Nale Bhi Gaye,
Dil Tujhe Debhi Gaye, Apna Sila Le Bhi Gaye,
Aa Ke Baithe Bhi Na The, Ke Nikaale Bhi Gaye.
Aae Ushaaq, Gaye Waada-e-Farda Lekar,
Ab Unhen Dhoond Charag-e-Rukh-e-Zeba Lekar!
Dard-e-Laila Bhi Wohi, Qais Ka Pahlu Bhi Wohi,
Nejd Ke Dasht-o-Jabal Mein Ram-e-Aahoo Bhi Wohi,
Ishq Ka Dil Bhi Wohi, Husn Ka Jaadoo Bhi Wohi,
Ummat-e-Ahmed-e-Mursil Bhi Wohi, Tu Bhi Wohi,
Phir Yeh Aazurdagi-e-Ghair-Sabab Kya Maani,
Apne Shaidaaon Pe Yeh Chashm-e-Ghazab Kya Maani?
Tujh Ko Chora Ke Rasool-e-Arabi (S.A.W.) Ko Chora?
Boutgari Paisha Kiya, Bout Shikani Ko Chora?
Ishq Ko, Ishq Ki Ashuftah-Sari Ko Chora?
Rasm-e-Salman (R.A.)-o-Awais-e-Qarani (R.A.) Ko Chora?
Aag Takbeer Ki Seenon Mein Dabi Rakhte Hain
Zindagi Misl-e-Bilal-e-Habshi (R.A.) Rakhte Hain
Ishq Ki Khair, Who Pehli Si Ada Bhi Na Sahi,
Jaada Paimaai Taslim-o-Raza Bhi Na Sahi,
Muztarib Dil Sifat-e-Qibla Nama Bhi Na Sahi
Aur Pabandi-e-Aaeen-e-Wafa Bhi Na Sahi
Kabhi Hum Se, Kabhi Ghairon Se Shanasaai Hai
Baat Kehne Ki Nahin, Tu Bhi To Harjaai Hai
Sar-e-Faran Pe Kiya Deen Ko Kamil Tu Ne
Ek Ishare Mein Hazaron Ke Liye Dil Tu Ne
Atish Andoz Kiya Ishq Ka Hasil Tu Ne
Phoonk Di Garmi-e-Rukhsar Se Mehfil Tu Ne
Aaj Kyun Seene Humare Sharar Abad Nahin
Hum Wohi Sokhta Saman Hain, Tuhe Yaad Nahin?
Wadi-e-Najd Mein Woh Shor-e-Silasil Na Raha
Qais Diwana-e-Nazara Mehmil Na Raha
Hosle Woh Na Rahe, Hum Na Rahe, Dil Na Raha
Ghar Ye Ujhra Hai Ke Tu Ronaq-e-Mehfil Na Raha
Ae Khush Aan Roz Ke Ayi-o-Bsad Naz Ayi
Be-Hijabana Soo’ay Mehfil-e-Ma Baaz Ayi
Badahkash Gair Hain Gulshan Mein Lab-e-Joo Baithe
Sunte Hain Jaam Bakaf Naghma-e-Kuku Baithe
Door Hungama-e-Gulzar Se Yak Soo Baithe
Tere Diwane Bhi Hain Muntazir ‘Hoo’ Baithe
Apne Parwanon Ko Phir Zauq-e-Khud Afrozi De
Barq-e-Dairina Ko Farman-e-Jigar Sozi De
Qoum-e-Awara Anaa Taab Hai Phir Soo’ay Hijaz
Le Ura Bulbul-e-Be Par Ko Mazak-e-Parwaz
Muztarib Bagh Ke Har Ghunche Mein Hai Boo’ay Niaz
Tu Zara Chair To De, Tashna-e-Mizrab Hai Saaz
Naghme Betaab Hain Taron Se Niklne Ke Liye
Toor Muztar Hai Ussi Aag Mein Jalne Ke Liye
Mushkalain Ummat-e-Marhoom Ki Asan Kar De
Moor-e-Bemaya Ko Humdosh-e-Suleman Kar De
Jins-e-Nayaab-e-Mohabbat Ko Phir Arzaan Kar De
Hind Ke Dair Nasheenon Ko Musalman Kar De
Joo’ay Khoon Mee Chakad Az Hasrat-e-Dairina-e-Maa
Mee Tapd Nala Ba Nashtar Kadah-e-Seena-e-Maa
Boo-e-Gul Le Gyi Bairun-e-Chaman Raaz-e-Chaman
Kya Qayamat Hai Ke Khud Phool Hain Ghammaz-e-Chaman !
Ahd-e-Gul Khatam Hua, Tut Gaya Saaz-e-Chaman,
Ur Gaye Dalion Se Zamzama Pardaaz-e-Chaman.
Ek Bulbul Hai Ke Hai Mahw-e-Tarannum Ab Tak,
Us Ke Seene Mein Hai Naghmon Ka Talatam Ab Tak.
Qumrian Shaakh-e-Sanober Se Gurezaan Bhi Huin,
Pattian Phool Ki Jhar Jhar Ke Pareshan Bhi Huin;
Who Purani Ravishen Bagh Ki Weeran Bhi Huin,
Daalian Parahan-e-Barg Se Uriaan Bhi Huin.
Qaid-e-Mausim Se Tabiat Rahi Aazad Uski,
Kaash Gulshan Mein Samjhta Koi Faryaad Uski.
Lutf Merne Main Hai Baqi, Na Maza Jeene Mein
Kuch Maza Hai To Yehi Khoon-e-Jigar Peene Mein
Kitne Betaab Hain Jouhar Mere Aaeene Mein
Kis Qadar Jalwe Tarapte Hain Mere Seene Mein
Iss Gulistan Mein Magar Dekhne Wale Hi Nahin
Dagh Jo Seene Mein Rakhte Hun, Woh Lale Hi Nahin
Chaak Iss Bulbul-e-Tanha Ki Nawa Se Dil Hon
Jaagne Wale Issi Bang-e-Dara Se Dil Hon
Yani Phir Zinda Naye Ehd-e-Wafa Se Dil Hon
Phir Issi Bada-e-Deerina Ke Pyaase Dil Hon
Ajami Khum Hai To Kya, Mai To Hijazi Hai Meri
Naghma Hindi Hai To Kya, Lai To Hijazi Hai Meri
Translated in English – The Complaint ( Shikwa )
Why should I choose the loser’s role? Forbear to seek what gain I may?
Nor think of what the morrow holds, But brood o’er woes of yesterday?
Why should my ears enraptured hear the plaintive notes of Philomel?
Fellow-bard! a rose am I to lose me in sweet music’s swell?
For I too have the gift of song which gives me courage to complain,
But ah! ‘tis none but God Himself whom I, in sorrow, must arraign!
I grant that we have earned repute as ever reconciled to Fate,
But to You still a tale of pain I can no longer help narrate.
Though we may seem like voiceless lyres, within, imprisoned anguish cries;
Its urge compels, and I obey, Framing these plaintive melodies.
Hear You, O God! these sad complaints from those of proven fealty;
From lips accustomed but to praise hear You these words in blame of You!
From when eternal Time began, Your Timeless Self had also been;
But then no breeze its sweetness spread though the Rose reigned the garden’s queen.
Canst You, in justice, but confess, O Lord! from whom all favours flow,
Had not the south wind toiled in love the world Your fragrance would not know?
The glad travail we sought for You Rejoiced our souls and was our pride—
Thinkst You the followers of Your Friend Insanely spread Your Truth so wide?
Before we came, how strange a sight was this most beauteous world of Thine (yours)!
For here to stones men bowed their heads, and there in trees did ‘gods’ enshrine!
Their unenlightened minds could seize nought else but what their eyes could see,
You know, Lord, Your writ ran not—Man neither knew nor worshipped Thee (You)!
And canst You say that even once one of these did Your name recite?
It was the might of Muslim arms fulfilled Your task and gave them Light.
Yet once there lived the Seljuks here, Turanians too, and wise Chinese,
Sasanians drew their breath and thrived In rose-perfumed Iranian breeze;
And elsewhere in Your peopled world the Greeks of Yunan held their sway,
While sons of Israel side by side with Christian nations had their day.
But which among these nations raised the sacred sword in holy fight,
Self-consecrated to Your cause, to set their crazy world aright?
’Tis we and we alone who thronged as warriors on Your fields of fray,
And now upon the land we fought and now upon the salt sea spray.
We made our Azan’s call resound beneath proud spires in Western lands,
And made that magic melody thrill over Afric’s burning sands.
The pageantries of mighty kings to us were shows that mattered not,
Beneath the shade of blades unsheathed in Kalima we glory sought.
Our only life was then to face the perils of Your holy wars;
To glorify Your name we died, adorned with hallowed battle scars.
Not lust for power for our own sakes our drawn-sword’s playfulness inspired,
Nor roamed we hand-in-glove with death for worldly riches we desired.
Our people, had they set their hearts on this world’s riches or its gold,
Not idol-breaking would have gone but idols would have bought and sold.
We stood our ground like rocks when once the foe had met our phalanx dread;
Before our might the bravest quailed and, vanquished, from the battle fled.
And those who offered You affront our swift, relentless fury faced,
Their mightiest arms we set at nought, Their insolence and pride abased.
On all men’s minds we set Your seal, Your tawhid’s firm and sure impress—
The selfsame message preached our lips when swords danced high in battle’s stress.
Declare You whose fierce valor once did Khyber’s barriers overthrow?
Or whose resistless might once laid Famed Caesar’s proudest cities low?
Who smashed to dust man’s handwrought gods, those things of straw and earth and clay?
And who did unbelieving hosts to spread Your name and glory slay?
And who was it that quenched and cooled the fiery urns of fair Iran?
And in that land did once again revive the worship of Yazdan?
Among those nations, was there one who craved You as we craved and sought?
Or risked the perils of fell war that Your Divinest will be wrought?
Whose was that conquest-thirsty sword which won and held the world in fee?
And whose the Takbeer-sounding call, which wakened all the world to You?
Whose was the fateful wrath which made all idols shrink in terror just?
“There is no god but God,” they cried, as crumbling down they kissed the dust.
When worship’s ordained hour was come, and furious raged the battle’s fray,
Those men of Hijaz, staunch in You, facing Your Ka‘ba, bowed to pray.
Mahmood the king and slave Ayaz, in line, as equals, stood arrayed,
The lord was no more lord to slave: while both to the One Master prayed.
Slave or slave’s master, rich or poor, no sense of difference then felt,
For each a brother was to each when in Your Presence, Lord, they knelt.
And You do know we went about at sunrise or when stars did shine,
In banquet-halls of Time and Space, like goblets, filled with tawhid’s wine
Both heights and lowlands we traversed to spread Your message; O glad pain!
Not even once, You know well, we strove against the world in vain.
Not only land we bore Your Word glorious across the heaving seas,
Upon our steed of zeal, we rode unto their darkest boundaries!
We who removed from this world’s book the leaves which were with falsehood stained,
We who, from tyrant ignorance, The prisoned human race unchained,
We who with myriad sajdas filled Your Holy Ka’ba’s hallowed shrine,
Whose bosoms reverently held Your great and glorious Book Divine—
If our meed still the obloquy that we have shirked the Faithful’s part,
How then canst You make claim to be the kindly faith-compelling heart?
For there are those of other faiths Among whom many sinners ,
Some humble, others puffed with pride, Drunken in their effrontery;
If some have vision, thousands are of little worth, neglectful, worse;
And millions upon millions live from Your dear, glorious name averse.
Yet see how still Your bounties rain on roofs 0f unbelieving clans,
While strikes Your thunder-bolt the homes of all-forbearing Mussalmans!
In idol-houses, hark! they say, “Behold, the Muslim star sinks low!
How glad they are that now at last Your Ka’ba’s brave protectors go!
They say, “The world is well rid now of hymn-reciting camel-men,
Their Quran folded in their arms, At last they hie them from our ken!
Thus they rejoice who own You not; Yet still unmindful seemest You
Of Yours own One-ness, Your Tawhid—Are You so unregarding now?
That ignorant men who lack the grace to ope their lips in conclave high
Should have their coffers treasure-filled, is not the burden of our sigh;
But O, that this world’s best should fall to unbelievers from Your hand
While we on promises are fed of pleasures in a shadowy land!
Where are those favours which You once upon our grateful hearts didst pour ?
Why cherishest You not, O Lord, The Faithful as in days of yore?
Why from the bounties of this life The Faithful now no profit gain
Though still Almighty You remainest aAnd limitless Your means remain?
If You but will, fountains can flow from barren desert and parched sands,
And mirage-bound a traveller be while walking through green forest lands:
Yet foe-men-taunted, grace-deprived, and poorest of the poor are we!
Is this Your recompense to those who sacrifice their lives for You?
Your world, how eagerly, today on strangers, all its grace bestows:
For those who walk Your chosen way a world of dreams its glamour throws!
So be it then, so let us pass, let other nations hold the sway—
When we are gone, reproach us not that tawhid too has passed away!
We live here only that Your Name may live here in men’s minds enshrined;
Can saki bid his last adieu and leave Love’s cup and wine behind?
Your court-yard empties. They depart who came to worship and adore;
The midnight’s sighs, the dawn’s lament, now You wilt miss for evermore!
They came, they gave their hearts to You, they had their recompense, and went.
But hardly they had seated been when from Your Presence they were sent!
They came glad lovers, begging love; with future promise turned away:
Go, shine Your Beauty’s lamp about and seek and win them if You may!
The love of Layla burneth still, And Majnun passion’s yearning knows;
In hill and valley of the Nejd the fleet gazelle still leaping goes;
The soul of Love is still the same, still, Beauty’s magic charms enthral,
Your Ahmad’s feemen still abide; and You art there, the soul of all.
Then Stranger! why estranged today the bond of love ‘twixt You and Yours?
Upon the Faithful, O Unkind, why frowns Your eye of wrath Divine?
Did we forswear our faith to You? to Your Dear Prophet cease to cling?
Of idol-breaking did we tire? or take to idol-worshipping?
Or did we weary of Your Love, or Your Love’s rapture ever shun?
Or turned we from the path which trod Qaran’s Owais and Salman?
Your Takbeer’s unextinguished flame within our hearts we cherish yet:
Aethiop Belal’s life, the star by which our own lives’ course we set!
But even if a change has been, and we in Love are less adept,
Or out of resignation’s path our erring wayward feet have stept;
If, unlike trusted compasses, our souls respond not now to you,
And if to laws of faithfulness our roving hearts are now less true ;
Must You too play the fickle flirt with us, with others, day by day,
We cannot help the sinful thought which shame forbids our lips to say.
Upon the peak of Mount Faran Your glorious Faith You didst perfect—
With one Divinest gesture drew a host of fervid first-elect;
Your flaming Beauty filled the world and set a myriad hearts on fire;
Then blew the quintessence of Love in Man to passion’s wild desire.
Ah, why within our deadened hearts that holy flame today leaps not?
Though still those burnt-out victims we which once we were, have You forgot?
Upon the dale of Nejd is stilled the clanging of the captive’s chains;
To glimpse the camel-litter, Qais no longer with his madness strains
The yearnings of the heart are dead, the heart itself is cold; so we;
And desolation fills our house for shines not there the Light of You.
O blessed day when You shall come, a thousand graces in Your train
When by unbashful glad feet turn towards our nesting-place again.
Beside the garden fountain now, quaffing wine, strangers sit, alas!
The cuckoo’s note their ear regales and their hands hold the sparkling glass!
From all this garden’s riot far, Calm in a corner seated too,
Love-longing lunatics await Your frenzy-kindling breath of ‘hu’!
The passion for the flame’s embrace—Your moths—ah, let them once more know;
And bid Your ancient lightning strike and set these ash-cold hearts aglow!
Towards the Hijaz turn again the straying tribe their bridle-strings!
Lo, wingless soars the nightingale aloft, upon its yearning’s wings!
The fragrance in each blossom hid within the garden palpitates,
But with Your plectrum wake its strings—The lute that livening touch awaits!
Yea, longs to break its prison’s bounds the string-imprisoned melody;
And yearning Sinai waits again to burn itself to dust in You
Resolve, O Lord! the travail sore which this Your chosen people tries,
Make You the ant of little worth to Solomon’s proud stature rise!
Bring You, O Lord, with our grasp that most rare love for which we pray;
To India’s temple-squatters teach the truth of the Islamic way.
Our hearts’ desires, long unfulfilled, unceasingly our life-blood drain;
Our breasts, with thousand daggers pierced, still struggle with their cry of pain!
The fragrance of the rose has borne the garden’s secret far away—
How sad it is, the traitor’s role the garden’s sweetest buds should play!
The bloom-time of the rose is done; the garden-harp now shattered lies;
And from its perch upon the twig, away each feathered songster flies—
But yet there uncompanioned sits A lonely bulbul, all day long;
Its throat a-throb with music still and pouring out its heart in song.
The darkening cypress sways no more; from shadowy nests its doves have fled;
The withered blossoms droop and die, and all around their petals shed;
Those memoried, old garden walks of all their former pride lie shorn,
Despoiled of raiment green, each branch in nakedness now stands forlorn;
Unmoved by passing seasons’ change, the songster sits and sings alone:
Would there were in this garden some could feel the burden of its moan!
This life no more its joy retains, nor even death can bring relief;
‘Tis sweet to sit alone and sigh and eat a sad heart out in grief.
Out from the mirror of my soul ‘ what gems of thought now strive to shine;
What visions splendid, dreams sublime,
Arise within this breast of mine! but in this garden lives not one to see and hear, to feel and know:
No tulip with its streak of pain, to sense my heart-blood’s smarting flow.
May this sad bulbuls lonely song to grief each listening soul awake;
The clangour of these rousing bells make drowsy hearts their sleep forsake!
Let Faithful hearts re-plight their troth, and forge afresh their bond Divine;
Let in the long-parched heart of each the old thirst wake for sweet old wine!
The blood of sweet Arabian vine O’erflows this wine-jar Ajamy,
Although the singer sings in Ind, ff Hijaz is his melody.