1.8

another one from kaifi azmi. this one was used in a hindi movie called 'haqeeqat' in the sixties. lovely, inexorable and sad.

maiN ye soch kar us ke dar se uThaa thaa
ke vo rok legii manaa legii mujhko
qadam aise andaaz se uTh rahe the
ke vo aavaaz de kar bulaa legii mujh ko
havaaoN meN lahraataa aataa thaa daaman
ke daaman pakaR kar biThaa legii mujhko

magar us ne rokaa, na mujhko manayaa
na aavaaz hii dii, na vaapis bulaayaa
na daaman hii pakRaa, na mujh ko biThaayaa
maiN aahistaa aahistaa baRhtaa hii aayaa
yahaaN tak ke us se judaa ho gayaa maiN

1.5

kaifi azmi was born as syed akhtar hussain rizvi into a family of landlords in the small town of mejwaan, in uttar pradesh. his father wanted to send his sons to schools imparting modern education, including english, against the stiff opposition of his relatives. however, azmi could not get this opportunity because his elders wanted him to become a theologian. he was admitted to a reputed seminary in lucknow. however, his nonconformist nature created many problems for the authorities of the seminary. he formed a students' union and asked all the students to go on strike to get their demands fulfilled. the strike continued for a year and a half. though the strike was called off, he was expelled from the seminary. this was the end of his elder's dream of training him to become a theologian. he wrote his first ghazal at the age of eleven and eventually graduated from typical love poetry to a more aware, more progressive and decidedly socialist outlook.
The one that I’ve picked is of course about love and separation.

ab tum aagosh-e-tasavvur me.n bhii aayaa na karo
mujh se bikhare huye gesuu nahii.n dekhe jaate
surkh aa.nkho.n kii qasam kaa.npatii palako.n kii qasam
thar-tharaate huye aa.nsuu nahii.n dekhe jaate

[aagosh-e-tasavvur=in the grasp/reach of dreams/imagination]

ab tum aagosh-e-tasavvur me.n bhii aayaa na karo
chhuut jaane do jo daaman-e-vafaa chhuut gayaa
kyuu.n ye lagaziidaa kharaamii ye pashemaa.n nazarii
tum ne to.daa nahii.n rishtaa-e-dil tuut gayaa

[lagaziidaa kharaamii=hesitant walk; pashemaa.n nazarii=penitent gaze]

ab tum aagosh-e-tasavvur me.n bhii aayaa na karo
merii aaho.n se ye rukhsaar na kumalaa jaaye.n
dhuu.ndatii hogii tumhe.n ras me.n nahaa_ii hu_ii raat
jaao kaliyaa.n na kahii.n sej kii murjhaa jaaye.n

[rukhsaar=cheek]

ab tum aagosh-e-tasavvur me.n bhii aayaa na karo
mai.n is uja.de huye pahaluu me.n bithaa luu.n na kahii.n
lab-e-shiirii.n kaa namak aariz-e-namakii.n kii mithaas
apane tarase huye ho.ntho.n me.n churaa luu.n na kahii.n

[lab-e-shiirii.n=sweet lips; aariz-e-namakiin=salty cheeks]