All Colors Become One
The baptism of God is the dyeing vat of Hu, God’s absoluteness, in which all colors become one. When the contemplative falls into that…
He set the world aflame – Rumi
He set the world aflame, And laid me on the same; A hundred tongues of fire Lapped round my pyre. And when the blazing…
You I choose, of all the world, alone…
This 16th century miniature (BNF Paris) depicts Shams Tabriz – from an illustrated copy of the Divan-i-Shams Tabriz, collection of Rumi’s verse named after…
Thou art the sky and the deep sea (Rumi)
When you fall asleep, you go from the presence of yourself into your own true presence. You hear something and surmise that someone else…
Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.
By Jalal-Uddin Rumi Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form. Friends are enemies sometimes, and enemies friends. I was a tiny…
On the day of death – Sheb i Aroos
when i die when my coffin is being taken out you must never think i am missing this world don’t shed any tears don’t…
Whether asleep or awake, I am thirsty for that Friend…
If you are not going to bed, then sit, I am going. Tell your tale, I have told mine. I have had enough of…
Half a Uniform – a passionate poem
This poem was published by a columnist in the Urdu daily Jang. The poet, a political worker, is aggrieved by the ongoing negotiations between…
…in the Crevices of My Dreams
I had written about Ayesha Salman and her poetry earlier. I just read this poem by her that she had written for her beloved…
the beloved you’ve lost
i want to leave this town but you’ve chained me down stolen away my heart leaving yourself behind now i’ve lost my way my…
kitnay barson baad
kitnay barson baad tau baat ho rahi hai pas wo nahin lekin roz mulaqat ho rahi hai sulag rahay hain khud agahi ki dupahar…
Tumhe inn mausamon ki khabar miltee…
Tumhe inn mausamon kee kaya khabar miltee aggar hum bhee Ghuttan kay khauf say aab-o-Hawa tabdeel kar laitay Tumahari tarhay jeenay kaa hunnar aataa…
Saare aalam mein bhar raha hai ishq
What dependent creatures we are.. Since last week, there is no power supply at my house. It has been a time of reflection and…
Temporal’s poetic visions
Since I have discovered Temporal’s blog – Baithak- I get to read some enchanting poetry. What attracts me most is the sheer force of…
five years since…
As again, am compelled to reproduce Baithak‘s evocative lines published on September 13, 2006. five years since the exclamations came down and the survivors…
“A Strange Problem” by Kunwar Narain
A strange problem By Kunwar Narain I have a strange problem these days The power to hate with all my heart Is ebbing by…
Remembering the lost voice – Majeed Amjad
I was thrilled to read about Majeed Amjad‘s amazing poetry on my friend Fawad’s blog. In his post titled Majeed Amjad – The Poet…
Silhouettes of Intimacy (Waqt ke khandar se jo..)
Shalimar Gardens Waqt Ke Khandar Se Jo Qurb Ke Jharoke Se Lamhe Chand Churae Thay Garm Ret Ki Manind Haath Se Phisalte Hain Aankh…
Urs of Bulleh Shah in Kasur
The annual Urs of Bulleh Shah, the Punjabi mystic poet, commenced yesterday in Kasur yesterday. Bulleh’s poetry reflected his rejection of orthodox hold of…
God – the tangled narrative
A Punjabi quartet by the Sikh poet Mohan Singh Rabb ik gunjhaldar ibbarat, rabb ik gorakhdhandha, Pech aes de kholde, kholde kaafir ho jaye…