Friday, October 24, 2008

ROZ EK SHER

हम बन्द किया आँख तसव्वुर में पड़े हैं
ऐसे में कोई छ्म से आ जाये तो क्या हो
-रियाज़ ख़ैराबादी

hum band kiye aankh tasavvur mein pade hain
aise mein koii chham se aa jaaye to kyaa ho
-Riyaz Khairabadi

As I lie down, eyes closed, lost in fantasies
What would happen if someone steps into them?


NB The translation struggles to capture the delicacy of the wording of
the original. "Chham" is an onomatopoeic word, denoting the melodious
sound of the paayal, worn by Indian women. The phrase "Chham se"
denotes suddenness and unexpectedness. Read the original couplet and
appreciate the romantic imagery of the poet. Picture yourself
stretched out, eyes closed, lost in your dreams. Then, your beloved
enters the dream. What would happen? Riyaz Khairabadi is a poet after
my heart!

_____________

Book of the day

PLANT LIVES
Borderline Beings in Indian Traditions
By Ellison Banks Findly
2008     220 x 150 mm     617 pp + 17 colour plates on art paper
Hardcover     Rs. 1095

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