Poem · Poetry

Old man sitting by the street

Old man sits by the street

Watches the world go by

What once seemed very slow

Seems now hard to keep up by

.

This old man, he traveled far

Fought against all odds

Accomplished a lot and felt proud

Birthed a son, just to throw him out

.

Now a widower, he stays alone

Everyday past mistakes he moans

Never treated his family right

In his house, only his might

.

He did it for them, that’s what he said

Each night lonely in his fancy bed

But every now and then

A memory comes through

.

A flash of his son’s smile

A taste of his wife’s food

Never leaves him alone, for good

.

This old man, he sits by the road

Watches the world go by

And his mind goes

If I had a chance to do this again

This time – all of my love

I would spread

Poem · Poetry

God’s delusion

Like a friend when left alone

For days on end

Creates a world of their own

In their head

So did the lonely God

Create

This illusion –

of you, and me and the Universe

To keep Him entertained

music · Poem · Poetry · Rumi

From the land of Rumi

An Indian artist called ‘Satinder Sartaaj’ has a beautiful Punjabi song dedicated to the great poet Rumi. It has perfect vocals along with wonderful lyrics and dramatic Turkish music. The song is describing how being in this life means being in separation from the Beloved and how all of life leads us to union with the Beloved. Here is the video below along with English captions to translate the lyrics. Listen and be transported to the land of Rumi.

Video :

Punjabi lyrics :

ਬੇਕਰਾਰੀਆਂ ਹੁੰਦੀਆਂ ਕੀਮਤੀ ਜੀ
ਹਾਸਿਲ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਇਤਮਿਨਾਨ ਹੋਵੇ
ਫ਼ਿਦਾ ਸੱਭ ਹੋਂਦੇ, ਤੂੰ ਨਿਸਾਰ ਹੋ ਜਾ
ਉਹਨੂੰ ਪਤਾ ਲੱਗੇ ਤਾਂ ਗੁਮਾਨ ਹੋਵੇਦਿਲਾ, ਹਾਰ ਤੇ ਸਹੀ, ਆਪਾਂ ਵਾਰ ਤੇ ਸਹੀ
ਇੱਥੇ ਹਾਰਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਉਚੀ ਸ਼ਾਨ ਹੋਵੇ
ਐਸੀ ਆਸ਼ਿਕੀ ਕਰੀਂ, Sartaaj ਸ਼ਾਇਰਾ
ਕੋਈ ਹੈਰਾਨ ਹੋਵੇ ਤੇ ਕੁਰਬਾਨ ਹੋਵੇਐਸੀ ਇਸ਼ਕ ਬਜ਼ਾਰ ਦੀ ਰੀਤ ਵੇਖੀ
ਲੱਖਾਂ ਸਾਹ ਆਏ ਤੇ ਰਸੀਦ ਕੋਈ ਨਾ
ਜੀਹਨੇ ਇਸ ਜਹਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੈਰ ਪਾਇਆ
ਉਹਦੀ ਗ਼ਮੀ ਕੋਈ, ਉਹਦੀ ਈਦ ਕੋਈ ਨਾਇਸ਼ਕ ਜਿਹੀ ਅਸਾਨ ਕੋਈ ਸ਼ਹਿ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ
ਇਸ਼ਕ ਜਿਹਾ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਿਲ ਤੇ ਸ਼ਦੀਦ ਕੋਈ ਨਾ
ਓਏ, ਤੂੰ ਅੰਦਰੋਂ ਹੀ ਲੱਭ, Sartaaj ਸ਼ਾਇਰਾ
ਛੱਡ ਬਾਹਰੋਂ ਮਿਲਣ ਦੀ ਉਮੀਦ ਕੋਈ ਨਾਇਹੋ ਲੁਤਫ਼ ਮੋਹੱਬਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਵੱਖਰੇ ਨੇ
ਜਦੋਂ ਦਰਦ ਹੋਵੇ ਓਦੋਂ ਹੱਸੀਏ ਜੀ
ਇਹੋ ਲੁਤਫ਼ ਮੋਹੱਬਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਵੱਖਰੇ ਨੇ
ਜਦੋਂ ਦਰਦ ਹੋਵੇ ਓਦੋਂ ਹੱਸੀਏ ਜੀ
ਕਦੇ ਹੱਥਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਖੋਲ੍ਹਕੇ ਖੈਰ ਮੰਗੀਏ
ਕਦੇ ਚੀਸਾਂ ‘ਚ ਮੁੱਠੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕੱਸੀਏ ਜੀਕਦੇ ਪੱਤਿਆਂ ਅੱਗੇ ਗਾਈਏ ਨਜ਼ਮ ਸਾਰੀ
ਕਦੇ ਆਪੇ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਨਾ ਦੁੱਖ ਦੱਸੀਏ ਜੀ
ਇਹੀ ਇਸ਼ਕ ਦਾ ਮੂਲ, Sartaaj ਸ਼ਾਇਰਾ
ਮਹਿਰਮ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਆਖੇ…

My English translation for the lyrics :

Restlessness is very precious
It is from this, that one achieves contentment
Everyone gets impressed, but you become devoted
When the beloved sees this, he/she will feel proud of you

Give up your heart
Give up your whole self
Let the losers be deemed winners here (who surrenders is the winner)
Love in such a way, poet Sartaaj
That some gets surprised and others sacrifice themselves (over the love)

Such is the ritual of this love market that
Even after giving the beloved a lakh breaths, there is no acknowledgement
Whoever steps in this land of love, has no permanent happiness or sadness

There is no other refuge like love
There is nothing which is as extremely difficult as love
Keep looking inside yourself Sartaaj
Don’t hope to find this love outside of yourself

The gentleness of love is something fascinating
When it hurts in love, we feel like laughing

Sometimes lovers lift their hands and pray to God
While sometimes they will clench their fist in anger
Sometimes they will sing love poetry to the leaves (of a plant/tree)
While sometimes they will not even admit their own sorrows to themselves

Ask these lovers what did you get in return for this
They will say they can see God in their beloved’s face
It’s because of this devotion
That we see the light in love
Think about where you stand, poet Sartaaj
The town of love seems pretty far for you

Why do you keep your feet in two boats
Either come together or go your separate ways

Be brave and take a side
Either become a spec of dust or become a miracle

Do something in love that makes others jealous
Do something in love that makes others remember you

feel good · love · Poem · Poetry · Spiritual

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/

love · Poem · Poetry · Spiritual

I see love

I see love in the twirling leaves

I see love in the dancing breeze

I see love when you make the sky

your paint palette everyday

Some say that you rule by fear

But when I look, I only find love here

Perhaps they misunderstand

the fear is only an ego illusion

When they look closer they will find

in love, their ego dissolution

Hafez · Poem · Poetry · Spiritual

Hafiz poem interpretation – My eyes so soft

Here is my interpretation of Hafiz’s ‘My eyes so soft’ poem:

Don’t

Surrender

Your loneliness so quickly.

Let it cut more

Deep.

Let it ferment and season you

As few human

Or even divine ingredients can.

Something missing in my heart tonight

Has made my eyes so soft,

My voice so

Tender,

My need of God

Absolutely

Clear.

In this poem, Hafiz is trying to tell humans the importance of loneliness. Loneliness is a feeling a human experiences when he/she is away from their soul, their spirituality. They try to fill this void by other people or things or activities or food/drinks, but ultimately everything is temporary and this loneliness returns. Hafiz says, remain lonely for a while, remain in the pain of being lonely. What gives you pain – teaches you, it ferments you – transforms you and shows you a better way to live life. Hafiz says, this loneliness is actually extremely useful for a person as it makes the person ultimately realize that he/she will feel a sense of belonging only and only when they get in touch with their spiritual nature. This will remove every part of their loneliness.

love · Poem · Poetry · Spiritual

Divine ecstasy

In your devotion, I sing

In your devotion, I dance

Your devotion is all devouring

Taking all parts of me

And making me new

Making me more like you

Let me be in your ecstasy

Always!

love · Poem · Poetry

Cloud and the rose

White cloud drifted

Beyond a care in the world

Looked down and noticed

A perfect rose

Prettier than a pearl

What can I do for her

He thought

And idea came to him

Let me melt into water

So I can be useful

Saying that he turned grey

And without an ounce of fear

He melted himself away

To be close to his rose dear

Soon he became one with

His beloved

Because he chose

Love over fear

feel good · Poem · Poetry

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.