YAAR MOTI

Image by somenoise via Flickr

Yaar Moti na milde doonghe sagar
Moti na milde lakhin,
Haar hutt ke beh gayi jindri,
Yaar moti meri vakhi!

Yaar milian sarsabaz baharan
Yaar palkaan te rakhan
Yaar di jholi chitti saveran
Yaar di mutthi lakhaan!

(tr.)Can't find friend pearls in deep seas
can't find pearls even if one spends millions,
exhausted,dejected sat down hopeless
my friend pearl found in my heart!

Friends are evergreen springs
Keep my friends on my eyelids
There are white dawns in the lap of my friend
There are millions in the loving hand of my friend!!

daman
31/08/2010

ਯਾਰ ਮੋਤੀ ਨਾ ਮਿਲਦੇ ਡੂੰਘੇ ਸਾਗਰ  

ਮੋਤੀ ਨਾ ਮਿਲਦੇ ਲਖੀ 

ਹਾਰ ਹੁੱਟ ਕੇ ਬ਼ਹ ਗਈ ਜਿੰਦਰੀ              

ਯਾਰ ਮੋਤੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਵਖੀ !

ਯਾਰ ਮਿਲਯਾਂ ਸਰਸਬਜ਼ ਬਹਾਰਾ

ਯਾਰ ਪਲਕਾ ਤੇ ਰਖਾ 

ਯਾਰ ਦੀ ਝੋਲੀ ਚਿੱਟੀ ਸਵੇਰਾ 

ਯਾਰ ਦੀ ਮੁਟਠੀ ਲਖਾ

---ਦਮਨ

੩੧/੦੮/੨੦੧੦

यार मोती ना मिलदे डूंघे सागर

मोती ना मिलदे लखीं

हार हुट के बह गयी जिन्दरी     

यार मोती मेरी वखी !

यार मिलिया सरसब्ज़ बहारा 

यार पलकां ते रखां 

यार दी झोली चिटी सवेरां

यार दी मुठी लखां  !!

---दमन

३१ /०८/२०१०           

IK GHAZAL

Image by millzero via Flickr

ਅੱਜ ਜ਼ਰਾ ਕੋਈ ਨਵੀ ਗੱਲ ਕਰੋ 

ਚੰਨ ਮੁਖੜੇ ਨੂ ਮੇਰੀ ਵੱਲ ਕਰੋ ! 

ਬੇਵਫਾਈ ਲਈ ਇਕ ਮੈਂ ਹੀ ਨਹੀ

ਦੁਸ਼ਮਨਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਵੀ ਤਾਂ ਛਲ ਕਰੋ !

ਗਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਬਾਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਕਰ ਬੈਠੇ 

ਹੁਣ ਬਹਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਸਜਰੀ ਗੱਲ ਕਰੋ! 

ਨਜ਼ਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਪ੍ਯਾਰ  ਛਲਕਣ ਦੇਓ

ਮੂੰਹੋ ਬੇਸ਼ਕ ਨਾ ਕੋਈ ਗੱਲ ਕਰੋ !

ਗ਼ਮ ਦੇ ਹੰਜੂ ਬਹੁਤ ਹਾਂ ਪੀ ਬੈਠਾ

ਕਿਰਣ ਸੁਰਾਹੀ ਨੂ ਮੇਰੀ ਵਲ ਕਰੋ !! 

ਦਮਨ 

੨੯/੦੮ /੨੦੧੦

        

अज्ज ज़रा कोई नवी गल करो 

चन्न मुखड़े नु मेरे वल करो !

बेवफाई लई इक मैं ही नहीं 

दुश्मन नाल वी ता छल करो !

गमां दी बात बहुत कर बैठे 

हुन बहारां दी सजरी गल करो !

नजरा तों प्यार छलकन देओ

मूहो बेशक ना कोई गल करो !

गम दे हंजू बहुत हाँ पी बैठा 

किरण सुराही नु मेरी वल करो !

दमन 

२९/०८/२०१० 

ajj zara koi navi gall karo 

chann mukhde nu meri vall karo !

bewafai layi ik main hi nahi 

dushmana naal vi ta chhal karo !

gamaan di baat bahut kar baithe,

hun bahaaran di sajri gall karo !

nazaran to pyar chhalkan deo

mooho beshak na koi gall karo !

gham de hanju bahut haan pi baitha

kiran surahi nu meri val karo !

daman

29/08/2010     

YOU !!!

Image by ...-Wink-... via Flickr

ਤੁੱਸੀ

ਬਦਲ

ਗਗਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਾਰਿਸ 

ਮੈਂ ਇਕ ਬੂੰਦ ਨਿਮਾਣੀ !

ਤੁੱਸੀ ਜੀਵਨ

ਇਕ ਪਾਕ ਪਵਿਤਰ 

ਮੈਂ 

ਇਕ ਗੁਮ ਕਹਾਣੀ ! 

ਤੁੱਸੀ 

ਬਸੰਤ ਬਾਹਰ ਦਾ ਖੇੜਾ 

ਮੈਂ ਨਿਸ ਗਮਾਂ ਵਿਹਾਣੀ !

ਤੁੱਸੀ ਖੁਸ਼ਬੋ                                         

ਪਰਾਗ ਸਜਰੇ ਦੀ 

ਮੈਂ 

ਇਕ ਖਲਤਾ ਪਾਣੀ !

ਤੁੱਸੀ 

ਚਾਨਣ ਦਾ ਅਸਗਾਹ ਸਾਗਰ 

ਮੈਂ ਇਕ ਛਿਟਕ ਨਿਮਾਣੀ !!!! 

ਦਮਨ 

੨੭/੦੮/੨੦੧੦ 

 तुस्सी 

बदल गगनां 

दे वारिस 

मैं इक 

बूँद निमाणी !

तुस्सी जीवन 

इक पाक पवित्तर 

मैं इक गुम कहाणी !

तुस्सी बसंत बहार 

दा खेडा

मैं निस गमां विहाणी !

तुस्सी 

खुश्बो पराग सजरे दी

मैं इक खलता पाणी !

तुस्सी 

चानन दा असगाह सागर 

मैं 

इक छिटक निमाणी !

दमन

2 7 /08/2010

Tussi badal
gaganan de waris
main ik boond nimani !

tussi
jeewan ik pak pavittar
main ik gumm kahani !

tussi
basant bahaar
da kheda
main nis ghamaan vihaani !

tussi khushbo
paraag sajare di
main ik khalta paani !

tussi
chaanan da asgah saagar
main ik chhitak nimani !

---daman
27/08/2010
nis=night,khalta paani=stagnant water
asgah saagar=unfathomable sea
chhitak=a weak ray!
             

THAT DAY

Image by RobW_ via Flickr

That day!
That smile
lazy like sunshine
on autumn afternoons;
splintered heart
scattered leaves
across the meadows;
yellow,
rusty,
pale fields alternating
with green patches   
waving adieu;
kept on walking
to an unknown destination
a journey without end;


Ithaca not in sight
Ulysses forlorn 
abandoned 
by the pleasure seekers,
sirens beckoning;


Life of pleasure
winning over.


I stand
amidst ruins
longing for return 
of sunny days ....

Image via Wikipedia

----daman
22/08/2010
(No copyright for the images is claimed)

ANOTHER HAIKU !

Image by Jörg Weingrill via Flickr

The snow flakes
falling 
on my doorstep !
My heartbeats
melting these
into tear drops !


ਬਰਫ ਦੇ ਫੰਬੇ 

ਡਿਗ ਡਿਗ ਪੈਣ 

ਮੁਹਾਠਾਂ ਉਤੇ !

ਸੀਨੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਹ੍ਵਾੜਾਂ

ਖੋਰ  ਉਨ੍ਹਾ ਨੂੰ 

ਪਾਣੀ  ਪਾਣੀ 

ਕਰੀ ਜਾਂਦੀਆਂ !

---ਦਮਨ 

੧੯/੦੮/੨੦੧੦ 

برف دے فنبے 

ڈگ ڈگ پین

محاٹھان اتے 

سینے دیاں حوارحاں

کھور انہاں نوں 

پانی پانی 

کری جاندیاں 

---دمن 

١٩/٠٨/٢٠١٠

SMILE OF AUTUMNS

Image via Wikipedia

ਪਤਝੜਾਂ ਦੇ ਖੇੜੇ

ਬ਼ਹ ਗਏ ਹਨ 

ਮੇਰੀ ਝੋਲ ਵਿਚ !

ਅਰਸ਼ ਇਕ ਥਿਗੜੀ ਹੈ 

ਮੇਰੀ ਝੋਲ ਦੀ !

---ਦਮਨ 

੧੮/੦੮/੨੦੧੦

پتجھدان دے کھڈے 

بہ گئے ہن 

میری جھول وچ 

عرش اک تھگدی ہے

میری جھول دی 

دمن 

١٨/٠٨/٢٠١٠ 


Smiles of autumn
are nesting 
in my lap!


The sky is a patch 
in my lap!


---daman
18/08/2010 

      

FAREWELL! DEAR FRIEND

Image by keamysparadise via Flickr

If I don't come back 


Friends don't be disappointed 
If I don't come back
from the battle... 
after the sunset...!


If I don't talk 
the next moment
Don't cry ! my Friends !!


Those who depart
don't ever say adieu!
Fragrances evaporate
with the whiff of wind!!


---daman
15/08/2010


This is dedicated to my friend Capt Lal Singh,
who went down fighting bravely in the Battle of Poonch.
Translated from my poem in Panjabi.  

Image by francescominciotti via Flickr

I shall come here again !!




I shall put the painful
song of seasons;
In the lap of winds!
I shall stitch 
the rag of  Earth
with my soulful songs.


I shall come here again!!


Tomorrow my feelings
shall demand back the 
overdue soft kisses of love;
I shall cross the doorstep
of eternal sleep,
and go to the
dazzling door of Life...!


I shall come here again !!

Image by francescominciotti via Flickr

I have seen 
the dreams dying in  
the setting sun of Life;
I shall gulp 
the miseries of dark nights
with the morning ambrosia!


I shall come here again!!!


daman
14/08/2010





   

WITHERED FLOWERS!

Image by Mathiaus via Flickr

Withered flowers


Withered flowers 
do not bloom again!


This heart has
been blossoming since ages!


Whose fragrance has 
kissed its ashes, 
pain of its ashes is howling! 


The thorns shall always be
pricking the arteries like leeches;

Image via Wikipedia

Has the caravan ever stopped!


Each morning 
bears the load of 
painful night;

White ray of moon
with rainbow colours, 

is dancing on my palm!


The fire is burning
since unknown times;


Hunger is dancing
a ballet of love,
with a grain of rice
in its womb!


Sorrows are dancing 
at my doorstep
filling new colours 
in my songs!


Pain has given birth to
a new awakening,





Pain is the cornerstone
of pleasure,
The caravan of pain 
is progressing steadily 
since ages....!




---Daman
06/08/2010  

MAJBOORI

Image by Andreas-photography via Flickr

Dil lana hai asaan
dil lagi de layi
Par dil di lagi
badi mushkil hi!

Tera shauq sahi dil taudan da
par assi tan dil nun la baithe!

Tu jaan teri ki majboori
Par sadi vi majboori hai
assi lagian tod nibhawange
Bhawein tere layi badi mushkil hai!


---daman
04/08/2010
दिल लाना है आसान
दिल्लगी दे लई
पर दिल दी लगी
बड़ी मुश्किल है !

तेरा शौक़ सही
दिल तोडन  दा
पर अस्सी तां दिल नु
ला बैठे ;

तू जाण तेरी की मजबूरी
पर साडी वी मजबूरी है
अस्सी लगीआं  तोड़ निभावांगे,
भावें तेरे लई बड़ी मुश्किल है !!
 
दमन
०४/०८/२०१०

 دل لانا ہے آسان 

دل لگی دے لیی 

پر دل دی لگی 

بڑی مشکل ہے

 تیرا شوق سہی

دل توڑہن دا پر   

اسسی تاں دل نو لا بیٹھے

تو جان تیری کی مجبوری 

پر ساڈی  وی مجبوری ہے 

اسسی لگیاں تورہ نبھاوانگے 

بھاویں تیرے لی  

بڑی مشکل ہے

دمن 

٠٤/٠٨/٢٠١٠

OUR SOJOURN TO MULTAN

Image via Wikipedia  

Leaving one's own country and migrating to one's own country! it surely sounds strange to those who have not experienced it, but this is exactly what happened in 1947.


We are refugees and still not refugees.....During pre-partition days, as children we had been singing in early morning rallies, prabhat pheries 'Aaj Himala ki choti se phir hamne lalkara hai, door hato, door hato, door hato aye duniya walo Hindustan hamara hai'. But everything changed , its context,its meaning...everything turned upside down.. overnight.


We got gagged all of a sudden. We could no longer call this as 'hamara Hindustan.We could no longer call this place as our own.


To get uprooted from ones roots is a pain which is beyond comparison. Many of you who have not experienced it, can never imagine the feeling of existence in a vacuum. This happened to a whole generation in August 1947. 


The people who had been the owners of the land  became 'refugees' or 'mahajirs' at the stroke of midnight in mid August, 1947.


When I was just about 10 years old...one fine morning in the middle of August 1947, we were told by 'Bhapaji'- our father - that we were  going to Multan which was a very big town and a cantonement  . No body, not even the elders had ever thought that we shall not be able to  set foot on the soil of Vehari again.

Multan was known for its - 'gard'  'garma' , 'gada'  and 'goristan' which means, the dust,the heat, the beggars and cemeteries. We had been reading this in our books till now, but we will be experiencing this ourselves. We were extremely excited by the news.


My eldest brother who was posted at Multan , asked his Brigade commander for permission to take a three tonne lorry so that he could take us to Multan before joining his duty. 

Image via Wikipedia A Sikh Gurdwara in Central Multan

I started collecting my things....small nick nack of a childs possessions, saying bye to my friends- Manzoor Ahmad , Lal Chand and Rafiq Qureishi, Asghar Jaffrey among others..I was not on talking terms with Rafiq, but we still liked  each other's company. We used to convey our messages through our common friend Manzoor or through written notes .. We longed to talk to each other, but a childish conceit stopped us from breaking the ice.


I never realised that I shall never be able to see Vehari again. A visa shall be required  to visit Vehari except in dreams. A place where I had learned to walk and play, where I had learned to read and write, alif,be, pe,  shall be out of my reach for ever! O my God! whose idea was it to put a line on the map which shall be called International border.


On 14th August 1947 all the children, including myself, celebrated a flag-hoisting ceremony in municipal park which was just opposite our house. Our child minds were very happy because we got 'laddoos' and 'barfi'to eat. We came to know only after  passage of considerable time that this was 'their' day of Independence. Independence from whom...from one's own people....? or Independence from British subjugation ...The friends Manzoor,Rafiq, Asghar with whom we had been playing till then had overnight become 'they'.


We reached Multan cantonement which was about 60 miles from Vihari in about 3 hours and were lodged in Brigade Officers Mess. It was a huge palace type building in Multan cantonment.


We were enjoying the sights of Multan..My two elder brothers used to be very eager to go on small errands to the market for our mother. They used to find some pretext or the other to be able to go to market. Back from the market, they would narrate the new and  thrilling experiences which I would listen very attentively and with great interest.

Once my brothers came back to tell the mother of a  great news...''look 'beji' ,that is how we used to address our mother, today when we were in the market a person was stabbed in front of our eyes with this big knife, gesturing with their forearms. This big knife... Everybody started running in all  directions. We dashed back to tell you this great news.


'Isn't it great news, Beji', looking towards her for approval and a pat on the back.


But Beji  was not amused. She listened to their chatter but felt greatly concerned. She made a firm resolve instantly to leave Multan and go back to Vehari. Our mother used to take quick decisions and stick to them which invariably turned out to be correct. 


When my eldest brother came over for lunch she told him firmly that we are not going to stay in Multan any more.  ''Arrange transport for all of us to go back to Vehari.''


We, the children were greatly dejected for not being able  to enjoy our stay at Multan....thus ended our ten day sojourn in Multan... but these ten days brought an upheaval in our lives about which I shall write some other time.

Image via Wikipedia Punjab Pakistan Vehari district highlighted

Daman
03/08/2010