prayer 2000 / du'a - ar'z

prayer 2000 ....

could not have guessed
the moratorium this year
on some
anniversary, event, festival

the day that comes yearly
---a reminder of certain memories
the event
---at the end of holy month
the festival
---at the end of the year
these moments
are about to descend again
but this burdened heart...
whoíd understand? whoíd explain?

donít fathom all that happened
the travails traversed
this year made it difficult
to appreciate a day, any day
neither the anniversary
the ending nor the beginning

heart implores to fill each day
with mirth, joy and grateful appreciation
like the years past

surely You remember
acknowledging bounties aplenty
we pleaded last year only
for acceptance of friendsí fervent
prayers and hopes?

need i remind You
the path of pain and agony
taken by a few friends?

(Still, O Friend listen ---
through sincerity and affection
showered by friends
some pain lessened
some was shared
resolve and support injected
hopeful reverberations
---so thank you, really, i do...)

now, aprehension overwhelms this heart
should i beg bounties
citing friendship?
have no personal requests to make
but this, O Lord
show mercy on my friends
nay, all my friends.
or this may yet turn
into another test
of our friendship.

duía ñ aríz
soucha bhee na thaa
is saal
aik din, taqreeb,
koi jashín,
manaiN gay nahiN hum

woh din har saal jo aata hay,
--oos rishtay ki yaad liyay
woh taqreeb
--mah-e-soum kay ikhtitaam pur
woh jashín
--saal-e-rawaaN kay khatimay pur
woh saíataiN phir aaya chahti haiN
maígar is udaas dil ko
kaun kaisay samjhai?

janay kiya baat huíie
kitnay imtihaaNouN say guzray hum
kay saal-e-maujood ka koi din bhee
bhata nahiN humaiN
na milaap ka na ikhítiítaam ka
na khatímay ka
koi din bhee ...... nahiN

dil tou kehta hay
saal-e-guzashíta ki maanind
hur oos din ko
khushiyouN maiN
pur-tashakkur jazbaouN maiN
ghota-zun kardaiN

tujhay tou yaad hay
aitraaf kartay huíaye teri barkatouN ka
maanga thaa sírif yehi
kay dostouN ki duíaiN meray
karna tu quíbool zaroor

tujhay kiya bataaouN
chund dostouN pay
kiya guzri hay is saal ---

(Phir bhee Rab meray
sunn pur-ummeed dil ki yeh sada
kay dostouN kay
khooíloos aur mohabbatouN say
kooch daríd baíta, kooch kum huía
kooch himmat bandhi, kooch sahara huía
shukria, tera shukria

ab daRta hay yeh dil kuch maanghtay huíaye
bísabab-e-yaari, nahiN hay koi khauf zaati
laikin O Rab meray kuch rehím aur kur
dostouN par meray, sab dostouN par...
warna phir yeh bun jaíayeígi
teri meri yaari ki baat.