I look for you when I am alone
The only one who felt like home
.
Frantically, my panic has grown
Then I realize –
In everything,
In my very being,
you are shown
.
You are me and I am you
I am not alone
Category: feel good
Union with the beloved
I am not an expert in Sufism, just a student of it. I once heard an interview of a Sufi Sheikh who said something to the effect of – “All of life is a coping mechanism before we meet the beloved (the creator) again”
To me, this statement hit really deep.
That is why many Sufi songs will refer to God as a lover or beloved. Here is one such beautiful song by a wonderful singer called Romy. The song is called ‘Sanu ik pal chain na aave’ (I cannot be satisfied for even one second). The original was made famous by the legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Please find the lyrics and translation to the one sung by Romy below :
Lyrics and meaning :
.
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
I can’t find satisfaction even for a second
Sajna tere bina
Without you my love
Dil kamla dub dub jaave
My crazy heart keeps on sinking
Sajna tere bina
Without you my love
Sajna tere bina
Without you my love
.
Raati mein jalava diva
At night I burn the lamp
Hanjua de tel da
With my tears as the oil
Hayyo rabba, sanjana nu
Oh my God, my love –
Chheti kyun ni mel da
Why don’t you meet me quickly
.
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
I can’t find satisfaction even for a second
Sajna tere bina
Without you my love
Dil kamla dub dub jaave
My crazy heart keeps on sinking
Sajna tere bina
Without you my love
Sajna tere bina
Without you my love
Bittersweet Autumn
Autumn is a season with bittersweet energy – the days get shorter, the air gets chilly, humans get slower, animals migrate or start preparing for hibernation, leaves turn colors and they start emptying the trees. It really is a season of letting go. This makes me think of a beautiful song which reminds me of the energy of Autumn.
The song is called ‘Haminastu’ which means ‘If there is Heaven anywhere, it is here, it is here’. I love the texture of this song, with it’s deep and clear musical beginning which has a soulful rubab playing. It’s hauntingly beautiful happy-sad lyrics are sung beautifully by Zeb Bangash, a talented artist. This is one of music director – Amit Trivedi’s masterpieces. Below is the song and its lyrics and translation.
gar firdaus, barooye zameen ast
haminasto, haminasto
meri jaan rooh dil se baabast
haminasto, haminasto.. (Persian)
If there is paradise on this earth somewhere,
here it is, here it is.
Inhabited by my life, my soul and my heart,
this is the place, here it is.
khaamosh darakhton ke saaye
ye khauf hai soya saa
kuch khoya khoya humne bhi
ye chehra hai roya saa (Urdu)
In the shadows if these silent trees
there is a fear that is hidden
Seems like I have lost something
the face is as if it has cried
murjhate gulon ne jhuk ke kaha
hume aadat hai hamin asto…
chalte lamhon ne ruk ke kaha
inaayat hai hamin asto… (Urdu)
Even the dying flowers bowed and said,
we are used to this.. in this place.
Moving moments stopped and said,
it’s kindness/mercy on us.. in this place.
ye veerane, ye sannaate
ye kya bol rahe hain
aate jaate, aate jaate
ho… (Urdu)
these desolate places, these silences,
what are they saying
as they pass?
panchhi saare ud gaye kahin
bas ghonsley hain haminasto
gar jannat hai zameen pe kaheen
yaheen pe hai haminasto, haminasto.. (Urdu)
all the birds have flown away somewhere,
only the nests remain in this place.
if there is heaven on earth somewhere,
here it is.. here it is..
Picture credit : https://qz.com/india/837702/in-photos-kashmirs-stunning-fiery-and-forlorn-autumn-is-missing-its-tourists-this-year/
Joy
I can see it bubbling inside
Inside your steel caged heart.
The one you put a lid on
To keep your poker face on.
I want to reach that joy
No, not to steal it away.
But to color you with it
So that with you
It will always stay.
Gratitude
In the velvety black-blue sky
two mountains stand as soldiers
with their snow-clad peaks glistening
in the white gentle moonlight.
I lie on my back on my sleeping bag,
my outstretched hand playing with
the dew-laden soft grass.
The smell of the moist Earth fills my lungs
grounding my very being.
The sound of the crickets fills my ears
with a chaotic symphony.
The sneaky stars play hide and seek with me.
And in my heart only these words echo
‘Thank you!’
Image credits : http://geraintsmith.com/southern-rocky-mountains-super-moon-rise/
Golden Ocean
God made you in the God mind
and then God threw his head back
and smiled.
A thousand suns filled the sky
and started setting one after another
in a golden ocean.
And that’s how you were made.
When I am gone
When my body is dying
And my soul is on its way out
Take me near the trunk of that mighty tree
The one that was my refuge
The one that supported me
Let me lie near my beloved
And let my body rot in the mud
My soul can witness this union
What comes from the Earth,
goes back to the Earth
Let me help my beloved
Thrive a little more
Provide the nutrients
Of my flesh and bones
And when some birds come
To eat my eyes, let them
Let me give back to dear mother nature
For I have lived and only taken
And then when I become one
With the mighty tree
Maybe one day my son will
Pass by below me
Maybe he will touch the mighty tree’s trunk
And feel it’s leaves
Maybe in it, he will feel his mother’s touch
His mother’s love, care and protection
It’s all still there
My Wildflower Man
I met a man once
With a mighty heart
Beautiful smile
And soulful eyes
Why do you not love
Yourself, I thought
In a dark room you
Keep the child locked
So happy to give love
But hesitant to take any
Do you fear being left out again
Have you been betrayed by many?
Is that why the child
doesn’t come to play?
But oh dear man,
Times have changed
Must you always have
The child be a man?
Let him free, love him
For that, will make you a whole man.
Vancouver, you beauty!
You pulled me in with your beauty
and mesmerized me into surrender
You gave me a welcoming home
like you give to homeless in your streets
You gave my son serene lanes to walk in
lined with your quirky Victorian houses
You get painted in all of God’s colors
and remind me of letting go and moving on
You are just like my hometown
filling me with hope every morning
You are precious Vancouver
blessed with God’s beautiful creations
You are magical Vancouver
with Angels flying and looking over you
Thank you Vancouver
for everything you give!
I love you Vancouver!
Images Credit : me
Ganapati Bappa Morya!
My father chopped off my head
I died. He attached an Elephant head instead
And resurrected me – for he was the God Shiva.
I saw his regret and forgave him in a heartbeat
Adored, loved and respected him ever since.
This is how Lord Ganesha, came into being.
Do you think, you will be able to do that?
Forgive the one who chops off your head?
Can you forgive the car that cuts off in front of you in the city traffic?
The boss who makes you feel worthless?
The spouse who has no time to hear your heartfelt thoughts?
The parents who did not understand their sensitive child?
All those who make these tiny cuts in your soul – day in and day out?
Can you forgive them?
That is why Ganesha is God and we are mere mortals.
Let us pray, that God Shiva chop off our ego-heads
and replaces it with one full of wisdom and knowledge,
just like Ganesha’s and all our obstacles shall begone.
Ganapati Bappa Morya! Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!
Image credit : me 🙂