That yearning moment..(ik lamha tha iztiraab ka..)

 

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Shalimar II

Ik lamha tha iztaraab ka
aur woh ik parat khawab ka
hum mushtaq, be-qarar, bey simt
ubharatay jugnu-on ki ghultee raat kay matalashi
apnay zabt ka imtihan letay rahay
 
Uss din se bach gaye jo lamhe
Hum ne woh supard-e-shalimar kar diye
ik muskaan nanhay bachay ki
aur chaya jaman se ladday per ki
ik kasnee khawb mein ghul gaya har manzar
 
poocho aaj kay har warqay se
khojo har khandar ki sadaa ko
chand awazain, chehray chand
shanasaa nazar aye gain
shaam ke haath tham lay agar
tau girtay lamhe sanbhal jaye gain

Here’s a bad translation…

That yearning moment ..
a leaf from an anguished dream
Eager, restive, directionless 
We searched the melting night
Burning with fireflies, and
Kept on testing our limits

The remains of the day
We bequeathed to Shalimar.
A child smiling
And the shades of jaman tree
All visions melted in a purple dream

Turn over the pages of the present
Search within the echo of the ruins
You will find familiar voices and
Intimate countenances
Hold the hands of the evening, my dear
And the sliding moments would freeze