(Bang-e-Dra-018) Shama

Shama
The Candle

Bazm-e-Jahan Mein Main Bhi Hun Ae Shama! Dardmand
Faryad Dar Gira Sift-e-Dana-e-Sapand

O Candle! I am also an afflicted person in the world assembly
Constant complaint is my lot in the manner of the rue

Di Ishq Ne Hararat-e-Souz-e-Duron Tujhe
Aur Gul Farosh-e-Ashak-e-Shafaq-Goon Kiya Mujhe

Love gave the warmth of internal pathos to you
It made me the florist selling blood‐mixed tears

Ho Shama-e-Bazm-e-Aysh Ke Shama-e-Mazar Tu
Har Haal Ashak-e-Gham Se Rahi Humkinar Tu

Whether you be the candle of a celebrating assembly or one at the grave
In every condition associated with the tears of sorrow you remain

Yak Been Teri  Nazar Sift-e-Ashiqan-e-Raaz
Meri Nigah Maya-e-Ashob-e-Imtiaz

Your eye views all with equity like the Secret’s Lovers
My eye is the pride of the tumult of discrimination

Kaabe Mein, Bukade Mein Hai Yaksaan Teri Zia
Main Imtiaz-e-Dair-o-Haram Mein Phansa Huwa

Your illumination is alike in the Ka’bah and the temple
I am entangled in the temple and the Haram’s discrimination

Hai Shan Aah Ki Tere Dood-e-Siyah Mein
Poshida Koi Dil Hai Teri Jalwagah Mein?

Your black smoke contains the sigh’s elegance
Is some heart hidden in the place of your manifestation?

Jalti Hai Tu Ke Barq-e-Tajalli Se Door Hai
Be-Dard Tere Souz Ko Samjhe Ke Noor Hai

You burn with pathos due to distance from Tajalli’s Light
Your pathos the callous ones consider your light

Tu Jal Rahi Hai Aur Tujhe Kuch Khabar Nahin
Beena Hai Aur Souz-e-Darun Par Nazar Nahin

Though you are burning you are unaware of it all
You see but do not encompass the internal pathos

Main Josh-e-Iztirab Se Seemabdar Bhi
Agah-e-Iztirab-e-Dil-e-Beqarar Bhi

I quiver like mercury with the excitement of vexation
As well I am aware of vexations of the restless heart

Tha Ye Bhi Koi Naaz Kisi Be Niaz Ka
Ehsas De Diya Mujhe Apne Gudaz Ka

This was also the elegance of some Beloved
Which gave me perception of my own pathos

Ye Aghi Meri Mujhe Rakhti Hai Be-Qarar
Khawabida Iss Sharar Mein Hain Atish Kade Hazar

This cognition of mine keeps me restless
Innumerable fire temples are asleep in this spark

Ye Imtiaz-e-Riffat-o-Pasti Issi Se Hai
Gul Mein Mehak, Sharab Mein Masti Issi Se Hai

Discrimination between high and low is created by this alone!
Fragrance in flower, ecstasy in wine is created by this alone!

Bustan-o-Bulbul-o-Gul-o-Bu Hai Ye Aghi
Asal-e-Kashakash-e-Man-o-Tu Hai Ye Aghi

Garden, nightingale, flower, fragrance this Cognition is
Root of the struggle of ‘I and you’ this Cognition is

Subah-e-Azal Jo Husn Huwa Dilstan-e-Ishq
Awaz-e-‘KUN’ Huwi Tapish Amoz-e-Jaan-e-Ishq

At creation’s dawn as Beauty became the abode of Love
The sound of “Kun” taught warmth to the spirit of Love

Ye Hukm Tha Ke Gulshan-e-‘KUN’ Ki Bahar Dekh
Aik Ankh Le Ke Khawab-e-Pareshan Hazar Dekh

The command came Beauty of Kun’s garden to witness
With one eye a thousand dreadful dreams to witness

Mujh Se Khabar Na Puch Hijab-e-Wujood Ki
Sham-e-Firaq Subah Thi Meri Namood Ki

Do not ask me of the nature of the veil of being
The eve of separation was the dawn of my being

Woh Din Gye Ke Qaid Se Main Ashna Na Tha
Ziab-e-Darakht-e-Toor Mera Ashiyana Tha

Gone are the days when unaware of imprisonment I was
That my abode the adornment of the tree of Tur was

Qaidi Hun Aur Qafas Ko Chaman Janta Hun Main
Ghurbat Ke Ghamkade Ko Watan Janta Hun Main

I am a prisoner but consider the cage to be a garden
This exile’s hovel of sorrow I consider the homeland

Yaad-e-Watan Fasurdagi-e-Be-Sabab Bani
Shauq-e-Nazar Kabhi, Kabhi Zauq-e-Talab Bani

Memories of the homeland a needless melancholy became
Now the desire for sight, now Longing for search became

Ae Shama! Intihaye Faraib-e-Khiyal Dekh
Masjood-e-Sakinan-e-Falak Ka Maal Dekh

O Candle! Look at the excessive illusion of thought
Look at the end of the one worshipped by celestial denizens

Mazmoon Firaaq Ka Hun, Sureya Nishan Hun Main
Ahang-e-Taba-e-Nazim-e-Kaun-o-Makan Hun Main

Theme of separation I am, the exalted one I am
Design of the Will of the Universe’s Lord I am

Bandha Mujhe Jo Uss Ne To Chahi Meri Namood
Tehreeh Kar Diya Sir-e-Diwan-e-Hast-o-Bood

He desired my display as He designed me
When at the head of Existence’ Divan He wrote me

Gohar Ko Musht-e-Khak Mein Rehna Pasand Hai
Bandish Agarche Sust Hai, Mazmoon Buland Hai

The pearl likes living in a handful of dust
Style may be dull the subject is excellent

Chashm-e-Ghalat Nigar Ka Ye Sara Qasoor Hai
Alam-e-Zahoor-e-Jalwa-e-Zauq-e-Shaur Hai

Not seeing it rightly is the fault of shortsighted perception
The universe is the show of effulgence of taste for Cognizance

Ye Silsila Zaman-o-Makan Ka, Kumand Hai
Tauq-e-Gulooye Husn-e-Tamasha Pasand Hai

This network of time and space is the scaling ladder of the Universe
It is the necklace of the neck of Eternal Beauty

Manzil Ka Ishtiaq Hai, Gum Karda Rah Hun
Ae Shama! Main Aseer-e-Faraib-e-Nigah Hun

I have lost the way, Longing for the goal I am
O Candle! Captive of perception’s illusion I am

Sayyad App, Halqa-e-Daam-e-Sitam Bhi App
Baam-e-Haram Bhi, Taeer-e-Baam-e-Haram Bhi App!

I am the hunter as well as the circle of tyranny’s net!
I am the Haram’s roof as well as the bird on Haram’s roof

Main Husn Ke Ishq-e-Sarapa Gudaz Hun
Khulta Nahin Ke Naaz Hun Main Ya Niaz Hun

Am I the Beauty or head to foot the melting love am I?
It is not clear whether the beloved or the Lover am I?

Haan, Ashnaye Lab Ho Na Raaz-e-Kuhan Kahin
Phir Chir Na Jaye Qissa-e-Daar-o-Rasan Kahin

I am afraid the old secret may come up to my lips again
Lest story of suffering on the Cross may come up again.