1/8: Parveen Shakir

dukh yeh naheen ke

andheron se sulh ki hum ne

malaal yeh hai ke

ab subh ki talab bhi naheen

it is not coming to terms

with the night that is distressing

but the anguish of no longer

wishing for a new dawn

Theme:Hopes, Aspirations & Dreams (33)

2/8: Parveen Shakir

khush aaye tujhe

shahr-e-munaafiq ki ameeri

hum logon ko sach kahne ki

aadat bhi bahut thi

may the wealth of the hypocrites

of the city bring you joy

but we also had the habit

of telling the truth

Theme:Oppression, Rebellion & Freedom (38)

3/8: Parveen Shakir

khud ko paaya to

gham-e-aalam mein bhi khushi paayi

tanhaayi mein bhi

apni hi mehfil sajaayi

when I found myself

i found joy even in worldly sorrows

even in solitude

i arranged my own gathering

Theme:Loneliness, Solitude & Grief (92)

4/8: Parveen Shakir

chalne ka hausla naheen

rukna muhaal kar diya

ishq ke is safar ne to

mujh ko niDhaal kar diya

lack the courage to move forward

yet, stopping is now impossible

the journey of love

has left me weary, exhausted

Theme:Quest, Journey & Destination (44)

5/8: Parveen Shakir

main phool chunti rahi

aur mujhe khabar na hui

wo shakhs aa ke

mere shahr se chala bhi gaya

i kept picking flowers

and i didn’t even know

my beloved visited the city

and left too

Theme:Love, Passion and Longing (88)

6/8: Parveen Shakir

dushmanon ke saath

mere dost bhi aazaad hai

dekhna hai kheenchta hai

mujh pe pehla teer kaun

my friends too

like my enemies…are free

i have to see who

shoots the first arrow at me

Theme:Friends, Family & Community (108)

7/8: Parveen Shakir

kuchh to tere mausam hi

mujhe raas kam aaye

aur kuchh meri miTTi mein

baghaawat bhi bahut thi

something about your weather

did not suit me well

and in my own soil, perhaps

there was too much rebellion

Theme:Oppression, Rebellion & Freedom (38)

8/8: Parveen Shakir

woh bhi sar-e-maqtal hai

ki sach jis ka tha shaahid

aur waaqif-e-ahvaal-e-adaalat

bhi bahut thi

even they were at the site of execution

who bore witness to the truth

and she too was familiar

with the system of justice

Theme:Oppression, Rebellion & Freedom (38)