Open the window of your heart
Do not worry if our harp breaks thousands more will appear. We have fallen in the arms of love where all is music. If…
In praise of mothers..
A reader from Karachi, Ahsan Jan Allawala – a student at the SZABIST, has contributed this little piece on the Mother’s Day. He wanted…
Faiz, a Peaceful Revolutionary
This is in continuation of the splendid translation series undertaken by Mr. Anis Zuberi and contributed by JZ for this blog. Earlier posts can…
The folded moment
Well, this evening I was bored with my writing. To amuse myself I assembled this little poem. This was just another day humdrum, ordinary,…
Longing – a short poem
This little poem by the famous Turk poet Aziz Nesin was left on Jahane Rumi by Sherry – I love it so much that…
The Angel Rose – a poem by Fatima Hasan
The past crept into my mind today, A new day, a different recall, Of days gone by so hurriedly, I grasped the rose ever…
Like Children
Recognize that your imagination and your thinking and your sense perception are reed canes that children cut and pretend are horsies. The Knowing of…
Selections from Shah Hussain’s poetry
“In the new Lahore lies buried Shah Husain and with him lies buried the myth of Lal Husain. Still, at least once a year…
“The Whole Place Goes Up” – Rumi
Spring is here, friends. Let’s stay in the garden And be guests to the strangers of the green. We’ll fly from one flower to…
Faiz’s Aaj bazaar mein pa-bajo-lan chalo … translated & explained
Another translation of Faiz rendered by a Toronto based poet – Anis Zuberi. This is a timeless poem or nazm, aaj bazaar main pa…
A reminder of your true self
Sana’i ! If you don’t find a friend, be your own friend! In this world of every kind of man and every kind of…
Why search for God?
Bulleh Shah – the master Sufi poet from medieval Punjab – identified where to find Love and the Divine presence. Nowhere, but within one’s…
What Hurts the Soul?
What Hurts the Soul? We tremble, thinking we’re about to dissolve into non-existence, but non-existence fears even more that it might be given human…
Wood for His Fire – Rumi
If you don’t have the Beloved why aren’t you looking for Him? If you have the Beloved why aren’t you rejoicing? If the Friend…
Bulleh Shah on dogs
Read the symbol-laden verses of Bulleh Shah with the translation contributed by Shahidain: RaateeN jaageyN kareyN ibaadat RaateeN jaagan kuttey teython utey bhonkanon band…
Be a connoisseur, and taste with caution
“God has given us a dark wine so potent that, drinking it, we leave the two worlds. God has put into the form of…
A moth to the fire of love (Rumi)
“If you are wise like the Friend of God, the fire is water to you, especially this fire of Love, which is the soul…
A Few Words on the Soul
Thanks to my friend Fawad, I have been introduced to the fine poetry of , Wislawa Szymborska (b. 1923) also the 1996 Polish Nobel…
Bulleh Shah – a few poems
Bulleh Shah ‘s poetry addresses most maladies that we face in this day and age. Recently, I was asked to help a friend with…
Go, knock at the door of your own heart
There’s a basket full of loaves on your head, yet you’re begging for crusts of bread from door to door. Pay attention to your…