(Bang-e-Dra-041) Subah Ka Sitara

Subah Ka Sitara
Morning Star

Lutf-e-Humsayegi-e-Shams-o-Qamar Ko Chorun
Aur Iss Khidmat-e-Paigham-e-Sehar Ko Chorun

Enough of this sun‐and‐moon neighboring glory—
Enough of this office of heralding dawn!

Mere Haq Mein To Nahin Taron Ki Basti Achi
Iss Bulandi Se Zameen Walon Ki Pasti Achi

Worthless to me the abodes of the planets,
Lowly earth‐dwelling is more than these heights

Aasman Kya, Adam Abad Watan Hai Mera
Subah Ka Daman-e-Sad Chaak Kafan Hai Mera

I inhabit, to heaven but a realm of extinction,
Dawn’s skirt of the hundred‐fold rent for my shroud:

Meri Qismat Mein Hai Har Roz Ka Merna Jeena
Saqi-e-Mout Ke Hathon Se Saboohi Peena

To live, to die daily my fate, to be poured
The morning‐draught first by the cup-bearer Death.

Na Ye Khidmat, Na Ye Izzat, Na Ye Riffat Achi
Iss Ghari Bhar Ke Chamakne Se To Zulmat Achi

Thankless this duty, this station, this dignity—
Better the dark then to shine for one hour!

Meri Qudrat Mein Jo Hota To Na Akhtar Banta
Qa’ar-e-Darya Mein Chamakta Huwa Gohar Banta

No star would I be, if it lay in my will,
But a gleaming white pearl in the cavernous sea,

Waan Bhi Moujon Ki Kashakash Se Jo Dil Ghabrata
Chor Kar Behr Kahin Zaib-e-Guloo Ho Jata

And then, if too fearful the strife of the waves,
Leave ocean, and hang in some necklace—what joy

Hai Chamakne Mein Maza Husn Ka Zaiwar Ban Kar
Zeenat-e-Taj-e-Sar-e-Bano-e-Qaisar Ban Kar

It would be there to glitter as beauty’s bright pendent,
A gem in the crown of an emperor’s consort!

Aik Pathar Ke Jo Tukre Ka Nasiba Jaaga
Khatam-e-Dast-e-Suleman Ka Nageen Ban Ke Raha

What fragment of stone, if its destiny smiled,
Might not flash in the ring on the finger of Solomon?

Aesi Cheezon Ka Magar Dehr Mein Hai Kaam Shikast
Hai Guhr  Haye Giran Maya Ka Anjaam Shikast

But glory of all such in this world must vanish,
The rich gem must vanish at last.

Zindagi Woh Hai Ke Jo Ho Na Shanasaye Ajal
Kya Woh Jeena Hai Ke Ho Jis Mein Taqazaye Ajal

That alone Lives, that need have no acquaintance with death:
Can that be called life, that hears death’s importunity?

Hai Ye Anjaam Agar Zeenat-e-Alam Ho Kar
Kyun Na Gir Jaun Kisi Phool Pe Shabnam Ho Kar!

If, making earth lovely, our end must be thus,
Let me rather be changed to a flower‐falling dewdrop,

Kisi Paishani Ke Afshan Ke Sitaron Mein Rahun
Kisi Mazloom Ki Aahon Ke Shiraron Mein Rahun

A speck in the gold‐dust that paints a bride’s forehead,
A spark in the sigh that a wounded heart breathes—

Ashak Ban Kar Sir-e-Mazgan Se Atak Jaun Main
Kyun Na Uss Biwi Ki Ankhon Se Tapak Jaun Main

Or why not the glistening tear‐drop that rolls
Down the long lashes fringing the eyes of a lady

Jis Ka Shohar Ho Rawan Ho Ke Zrah Mein Mastoor
Sooye Maidan-e-Dagha, Hub-e-Watan Se Majboor

Whose lord, in chain armour enmeshed, must set forth
To the battlefield, hurried by love of his country,

Yaas-o-Umeed Ka Nazara Jo Dikhati Ho
Jis Ki Khamoshi Se Taqreer Bhi Sharmati Ho

—A woman whose face like a picture shows hope
and despair side by side, and whose silence shames speech:

Jis Ko Shohar Ki Raza Taab-e-Shakeebai De
Aur Nigahon Ko Haya Taqat-e-Goyai De

her patient thoughts built on her husband’s  firm soul,
Her looks from their modesty borrowing eloquence,

Zard., Rukhsat Ki Ghari, Aariz Gulgoon Ho Jaye
Kashish-e-Husn Gham-e-Hijar Se Afzoon Ho Jaye

That hour of farewell when the rosy cheek pales
And the sorrow of parting makes beauty more beautiful!

Lakh Woh Zabt Kare Par Main Tapak Ho Jaun
Saghir-e-Didah-e-Purnam Se Chhalak Ho Jaun

There, though she locked up her heart, I would gleam,
One waterdrop split from her eye’s brimming cup,

Khak Mein Mil Ke Hayat-e-Abdi Pa Jaun
Ishq Ka Souz Zamane Ko Dikhata Jaun

To find in the dust an immortal new life,
And teach to the world the long passion of love.