Adieu Mahmoud Darwaish
Courtesy AHRC I come from there I come from there and I have memories Born as mortals are, I have a mother And a…
O my Lord, if I worship you
Today I was directed to this excellent blogsite devoted to Rabia Basri’s poems – found this bold poem by Rabia, an early Sufi from…
Choose A Suffering
Choose A Suffering Yesterday in the assembly I saw my soul inside the jar of the one who pours. “Don’t forget your job,” I…
Rumi’s Quatrain – Our drunkenness does not come from wine
Rumi’s Quatrain – Our drunkenness does not come from wine. The joy of our gathering does not come from the harp or rubaab. With…
To Muslims: Smash the Doors, Wash your brains..
Came across this excellent article by Farooq Suleria that rather candidly talks about the dearth of creativity in Muslims of today. I love the…
Know the true definition of yourself
Rumi on knowing ourselves Suppose you know the definitions of all substances and their derivatives, what good is this to you? Know the true…
Doing as others told me/I was blind
Rumi’s Quatrain (no 77) can have so many interpretations ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Doing as others told me, I was blind. Coming when others called me, I…
Doors in Metal
“Doors in Metal” by Rumi Tell me, O Love, Who is more elegant, You or this vast garden of yours? Shine, O moon, You…
My poems have been published – finally
This is the first time… Two poems of mine have been published by the international poetry digest, “A Hudson View” in its Spring 2008…
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…
Throw Away the Books – Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah (1680-1758) of Kasur in Central Punjab is an extraordinary voice that provided a mystical message beyond caste, institutionalized religion and ideologies of…
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…
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…