Shamas Faqir....CONTD..4

my place is behind the veil of pain
the queen will come out and play the game
my place is behind the veil of pain
why was my heart,
the heart of a simple being enamored:
my place is behind the veil of pain
****
look at the dust on the book of destiny ,
love has put a sheen on beloved's face,
this was embroidered on the tunic of my heart:
my place is behind the veil of pain
****
you shall reap in the autumn,
what you sow in the spring.
meditate and keep on humming,
the lover is scared of
neither heat nor cold:
my place is behind the veil of pain
****
what would one know of it,
be him a child or a man grown
who has not suffered the scalding of love,
when to offers his head to some one?
my place is behind the veil of pain
****
Shamas Faqir traversed the whole universe
praying to Lord for eternal life
sitting at home and repeating the word:
my place is behind the veil of pain

(translation:ayaz rasool nazki)

Shamas Faqir....CONTD..3

When shall that simpleton see the light?
(Shamas Faqir)
If you are wise, introspect within:
When shall that simpleton see the light?
****
how do I blame that gardener,
flower plants were sown
and nettle has grown
I watered it and it has bitten me:
When shall that simpleton see the light?
****
deceiver himself gets deceived,
for him the noon turns in to night.
what would a pauper light a hearth for:
when shall that simpleton see the light?
****
don’t waste your counsel on devils lad,
consider him to be base at base
emancipation is not for a dirty core:
when shall that simpleton see the light?
****
the one who jumps in to the ocean of love,
to cleanse his self shall realize
meem,alif and lam
I woud snatch the pearl of realization from his hand:
When shall that simpleton see the light?
****
Shamas, the mad seeks the true Lord,
Allah let my name live forever.
to eat away the moon,
immature ascended the sky:
when shall that simpleton see the light?
****
(translation:ayaz rasool nazki)

Shamas Faqir....CONTD..2

GAZAL
(shamas faqir)
i see everywhere my friend
not a hair breath without,
come i will tell you the secret of secrets
do not be un attentive
***
in a moment it came to me
i heard it under the wings of my heart
care and attention are preferred
for up, the down is also pride
***
you dive in to the unity
you will find the king
if alive you be , alive you die
go on playing as a child
***
the sea is deeper than the deep
how would blind fathom the vast
not easy to comprehend the meaning
only wise may do
***
tear away the garments of not being
you will know your name
the goblet with wine empty
***
in the supplication i saw ,
existence and vision disappear
this secret alone remained
and it is not wrapped in drapes
***
how do i tell you its worth
even dead the lover lived
you shamas make this happen
in case you you seek
***
(translation: ayaz rasool nazki)

Shamas Faqir....CONTD

I have been united with you
(Shamas Faqir)

since the moment you burnt me
in the fire of love,
i have been united with you
since the time ,i heard your word
i have been united with you
***
me, a log of sandalwood
brought down from the woods,
you with love’s axe
chopped it in to pieces,
the burden of trust
is now on me,
i have been united with you
***
neither a believer nor a non- believer
neither of pedigree nor of high virtue,
you in a jiffy took my heart and faith
from me
i have been united with you
***
i sighted you over the harmokh
in seven curves you the colorful
became visible ,
the colorless, I couldn’t gather
i have been united with you
***
Shamas Faqir entered the black
drinking the elixir of eternity
again and again,
drinking that which was revealed
i have been united with you
****
(translation: ayaz rasool nazki)
pic:Autar Mota's blog

The most special...(shamas faqir)

The Most Special among specials
(Shamas faqir)
Him and His attributes are one
The Most Special among specials
look for Him always, He has no interruptions
The Most Special among specials
****
Sealing all six directions, sixth sense awakens
that nod is for the wise
this is the promise made to me by the
wine seller
The Most Special among specials
***
I burnt the sandalwood
and melted gold
the master put it to touchstone,
In the market place it lost faith
The Most Special among specials
***
the fire of love burnt my body
the glare of sun went in to my eyes
exaltation after death,
is the life for the seeker
The Most Special among specials
***
streams issue from the river
river drifts within the drop
this commoners do not know
The Most Special among specials
***
Shamas Faqir! Drink the elixir of eternity
that is the life of perfect ones
may you then be with the pure
The Most Special among specials
***
(Translation :ayaz rasool nazki)

The most special...(shamas faqir)

The Most Special among specials
(Shamas faqir)
Him and His attributes are one
The Most Special among specials
look for Him always, He has no interruptions
The Most Special among specials
****
Sealing all six directions, sixth sense awakens
that nod is for the wise
this is the promise made to me by the
wine seller
The Most Special among specials
***
I burnt the sandalwood
and melted gold
the master put it to touchstone,
In the market place it lost faith
The Most Special among specials
***
the fire of love burnt my body
the glare of sun went in to my eyes
exaltation after death,
is the life for the seeker
The Most Special among specials
***
streams issue from the river
river drifts within the drop
this commoners do not know
The Most Special among specials
***
Shamas Faqir! Drink the elixir of eternity
that is the life of perfect ones
may you then be with the pure
The Most Special among specials
***
(Translation :ayaz rasool nazki)

Shamas Faqir

SHUNYAH.......translating Shamas Faqir
beyond the nothingness
was my nest
the fire of love burnt it down
a swinging cradle with chimes was hung
in the filled
hearing the jingling i stepped in
***
within the totality i enjoyed the stroll in the garden
i was shown the flower in full bloom
the unknown in a moment called out to me
began to profess his love
***
the guide told me a while ago
world is a crow wedding party
joined me with the wind
and showed me the special and routine
***
saw mountains and hills on fire
spotted water in a stream
the green turf hid the snare,the net
i was enmeshed my friend
***
the crow went with the news to the owl
the happy one has been trapped
if you see him you will know
the road to there is slippery
***
hearing this the owl bowed his head down
he lost his own being
crow came with this to the razhoonz
how much ruckus did he raise
***
trapped i was in a daze
in reality was i wise
ignoring real went for apparent
material has to destroy
***
i was the king over the heights
fate plunged me down
black surma put in to my eyes
the enemy turned upon me
***
i had a look from my height
and lost the one pearl i had
the friend burnt my pearl string to ash
i shook the fire"s hand
***
the wine seller gave me a word
simpleton you be not ,you are the boss
kin and the stranger both be same
expend millions of thousands
***
reaching that place i saw seven springs
the spring beyond had the purest of water
sandalwood forest had idrees
grafting undertaken by ilyaas
***
i sifted the ocean
the pearl string i brought up to the bank
there the khazir said to me
you will be blinded ,stop
***
shamas faqir,happening and bearing
one only knows who suffers
new and old both are valued
the shroud be of silk
***

THERE LAY THE CITY

There Lay The City
Ms. Pixy was in a rage. How could they do such a thing? She had sought an audience with the chief. After all the state had enshrined the principle of rights of species and their protection and conservation in the constitution of the state. Then how could a local chieftain order the mauling and hunting that was held in the name of sport?
She met the chief in his official quarters. The chief was very attentive to the points raised by the activist. He assured her that he would order an enquiry and take all steps necessary to safeguard, protect and preserve the endangered species. He was convinced on the need to make concerted efforts to increase general awareness towards these issues. Ms. Pixy was very happy to enlist the support of the chief in her work. She on her part gave a detailed power point presentation, highlighting the programs, she had launched in recent times to ensure the safety of the threatened species.
The chief however jocularly referred to some over enthusiastic academics who were going about spreading falsehoods regarding the past and claiming that the species in question had ever been ruling the city and that we, the best among the species, the canines lived in service to these wretched humans. The chief conveyed his total disapproval of such theories which would if allowed to go unchecked create confusion in the population and lead to instability. The chief advised Ms. Pixy to keep her work miles away from these so-called wise ones.
The facts enumerated by the chief in support of his assertions were based on truth and not falsehood.
The chief referred to the life in the city and compared it with the situation in the fringe where entire population consisted of these wild humans. With a broad smile on his face and a wink in his eye he told Ms. Pixy to launch some kind of an awareness campaign in those areas about cleanliness, civic sense and social etiquettes. “Look at those areas, and see those clogged drains, see the filth and dirt on the streets, the cesspools of dirt’ ‘the chief started on his favorite subject. ‘Tell me, Ms. Pixy, how can we stop these humans from creating so much of filth around themslves? The chief wanted to get some response to his queries. Sensing that the chief was in a mood to prolong the meeting, Ms. Pixy cleared her throat and looking tenderly towards the chief said’ ‘what I believe is that these animals need our compassion and understanding, they are very vulnerable. They are not as strong as we are, they aren’t even as intelligent as we are, therefore they create all the mess around their lives, chief.’
The meeting ended after a long discussion. Ms. Pixy straightaway drove to the last corner of the city. This area was marked by congestion, noise, overflowing drains, quarrels and brawls, shrieking children, wailing women and shouting men. There was a total chaos on the streets, in total contrast to the main city, the city administered by Ms. Pixy’s kind.
The city was neat and clean. It did not have any garbage dumps; it did not have potholes on roads. It did not have dark alleys and blind streets. It was not in a mess, whereas the portion of the city under their occupation represented a hell. Seeing Ms. Pixy in their locality the entire folk collected around her. She seemed to be quite popular in the area. Everybody wanted to talk to her and bring to her notice his or her grievance, the issues of subsidy on water, on power, on ration, and above all income generating jobs for every person in the family. Ms. Pixy listened to them with patience and assured them that she will take up all these issues with the chief.
The notables among the populace were eager to profess their loyalty and faith to the party in power in the city and place all their trust in the most capable and honest leadership. They were quick to announce that they were all very nice and law abiding citizens and were always against those who challenged the leadership in the city. The elders wanted the Government to come up with an economic package and increase subsidy.
Ms. Pixy assured them of sympathetic consideration of all issues brought to her notice. The congregation garlanded Ms. Pixy and took her round the locality in a huge procession. They raised slogans in support of the chief who ruled their city. The city, that belonged to them not in very distant past.

A Dream

Yes it was a dream,or perhaps a dream within a dream.I woke up with a cold sweat.Dawn was breaking and first golden rays of sun were knocking at the window panes of my room.I could hear the chirping of birds nestled in the huge jamaun tree behind my house.The bells had begun to tinkle in the temple and the dvd had started playing the bhajan tuned to a popular film song of my childhood.Now back to my dream.I was in a huge sprawling complex ,it was a prison.No, I was not serving a prison sentence.Perhaps the jailor was some kind of a friend of mine.I gather ,he had made it possible for me to visit the prison on a special occasion.The special occasion was hanging of a prisoner.All elaborately timed protocol was being unfurled.I was showed the person who was being hanged.I wanted to talk to him but this was not possible ,i understood,though no one told me that.He was a well built man with broad shoulders and a big head.He wore a blank expression on his handsome face.There was no smile on his mustached lip.He was standing up with his arms hanging by his side.He had a crop of jet black hair which appeared freshly oiled.The scene shifted and my dream took me to a window, perhaps on the second or third floor.I stood there looking out in to the huge expanse of ground with many trees in the background.The foreground was a burial ground ,with many granite tablets popping up above the surrounding ground.I could even read some inscriptions on these stones.There in the midst of this burial ground were men with hunched backs and shovels in hands digging a grave.
I watched the digging.Shovel by shovel they were removing the loosened earth and making a heap on a side.The hole was becoming wider and deeper with each sweep of the shovel.Then my eyes saw a heap of bones wrapped in dry bark getting exposed as the digging progressed.The digger lifted the bundle wrapped in the bark and put it to a side.He resumed his digging un perturbed.
I understood .
The old was to give way to the fresh occupent.

YA MUHAMMAD saw....

aap ke dar per nahin aayen to jayenge kahan
ya Muhammad aap jaisa koi payenge kahan
zulm ki aandhi chali hai char janib se hazoor
yeh guzarti hai jo hum pe woh sunayenge kahan
ashk aankhon main ubalte jarahe hain raat din
aap ke dar per na pohnche hum bahayenge kahan
zakhm kitne jane seene main lage hain ya nabi
aap dekhenge nahi to hum dikhayenge kahan
aap ke han aayen kaise sharm aati hai hamen
aib itne hain jo hum main woh chhupayenge kahan

YA MUHAMMAD saw

aap ke dar per nahin aayen to jayenge kahan
ya Muhammad aap jaisa koi payenge kahan
zulm ki aandhi chali hai char janib se hazoor
yeh guzarti hai jo hum pe woh sunayenge kahan
ashk aankhon main ubalte jarahe hain raat din
aap ke dar per na pohnche hum bahayenge kahan
zakhm kitne jane seene main lage hain ya nabi
aap dekhenge nahi to hum dikhayenge kahan
aap ke han aayen kaise sharm aati hai hamen
aib itne hain jo hum main woh chhupayenge kahan

I dont know
if this is fidelity
if this is faith
if this is love
but the fact is
year after year
in this month
at its end
few tiny bulges appear
on a weak slender stem
and that sets my heart racing
every morning
every evening
i watch it grow
till at last
there it is
the narcissus
in my lawn
away from that
fragrant verdant vale

akh shar

wakh chhu razan tem dapan diutmut chhu az farman nov
yeth shaharas manz basawun chhum mae wen insaan nov

NEW YEAR

The year will
die tonight
and a new one
will come and take its place
this has been
and this shall be
ever and ever
in to the eternity
and in to the time

but i shall not be
always there
to light candles
and break in to applause
on the stroke of midnight
no one shall be

we are allotted
only few midnights
and few candles
and few fireworks

we are strange
we know all
but we pretend
we know not
every minute
every day
we wither away
the decay is in
our genes
in the programme
and then a moment
we cease to be
going away
as if a whisper
between the leaves
as if
a bubble with the rain

let us party tonight
wear our caps
pointed up
in to the sky
let us pretend
we are immortal
never to die
never to decay
till the lights are on
till the stroke of midnight
let us dance
to the beat of time
to the wink of stars
and to the whiff of leaves

let us dance
to the rustle of dresses
to the paint on lips
to the scents in the
room
to the looks
of amorous night
to the sacredness of souls
let us drink
to the tears of
children
sweat of men and
the blood of women

let us sing
to the sprout of buds
to the golden wheat
to the luster of corn
to the milk
to the honey
and to the nectar

to the bees
and to the birds

till the midnight
the stroke of twelve.

NOSTRDAMUS

i wasn't awake
i wasn't asleep as well
my senses dull
but my mind ran
over the hills
galloping wild
in that meadow
over that ridge
within the valley
along the river

spring came
and went away
autumn came
and went away
and with snow
all around
the king arrived
and rode in his royal carriage
the streams rolled a silver carpet
the springs shot up fireworks
in to the sky


i saw the trees
being reborn from old wombs
in the earth
i saw the wind acting
a mid wife and the breeze kind nurse


i wasn't awake
i wasn't asleep either
through that night
when stars were born
and moons were lit

a sun was torn from a heap of suns
in the night of heaven
the day was placed
and i was given
the golden key
to open the gate
and let the angels out


in to the backyard
entered the leopards and took away
the little pups
and their mom
roamed around
seeking her kids

i was the Nostradamus of your age
i saw it happen
before my time
and so was blinded
by the sight
and put in to the well
for thieves to come
and rescue the boy

whose father had
blinded himself
and smelt his sweat
and heard his blood
on a worn out shroud

they did a mistake
they forgot about me
i wasn't awake
i wasn't asleep either

IT WAS HER

fragrances are always deceptive
traveling over spaces
and marching over time

i know she wasn't around
how could she in that din,
in that traffic,
soot and smoke,
dust and grime

how could she
ever be there
but ask my senses
it was her ,it was her

with a gush of wind
with a whiff of air
with a draught from the sea
her fragrance came
and entered my being

ON WAY TO MUMBAI

he seemed to me
a simple man
obedient to the will of God
with a long beard and
sporting a skull cap
at peace with the world

i saw him numbling
a string of beads
an offering to his God
i saw him kneel in prayer
five times a day

i talked to him of life
he talked to me of death
of all his acquaintances
whom he had met
at the hospital in Mumbai
five years ago and how
only his wife survived
the onslaught of cancer
and how all this was by
the grace of God that
fifth year in a row
her tests were good.

we said good bye
at Bandra terminus
be it then that sixth year
and seventh and on and on
his wife lives and his faith
outlives him and his God
and his mercy outlives all.

Masterpiece

today i must
write a masterpiece
an offering to
divine sarswati
who like a magical swan
swims on the sandy river
of muse and rhyme
but what should i write
and how should i write
for the former nothing is known
and for the later i have no pen

but a masterpiece i must write
even with no sense and
even with no pen
sense is the virtue of the fools
and pens are flaunted by the illiterate

Tonight

tonight i am my own friend
come to see me after a long time
together we shall sit on the terrace
in the moonlit night
drink to the stars up in the sky
recollect the old childhood friends
and re- say all those boyish jokes
and laugh our hearts out

tonight we shall hand in hand
descend the meadow
and ascend the hill
bask in the sun and
lazy around
on the turf of past
collect pebbles and toss them up
run after the rabbits in the woods
make a snare with
a strand of horse's hair
and lay a trap for little birds


tonight me and my bossom friend
shall see each other
in the mirror of time
leafing through the dusty books
reading aloud the poems
and singing the songs
that we never wrote.

River Bank Opera

it is good to
go and sit on the river bank
and throw pebbles in to the water
create a ripple for a fleeting second
and watch it dissolve with the tide

the early morning rays of sun
play a dance on the bank
and enact an opera
on the stage of sand
the trees dotting the edge
watch in silence
and record the moves
on their leaves for posterity

the divine play
plays itself out
every morning
on the river bank
but oblivious to this and all
the river flows
keeping its course
never knowing where to go


but i have a date with time
an engagement foretold
written in a huge book
the book of accounts
the book of actions
and i must go.