Poetry: Tanhaee by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Translated by MHK and t

Sadiquain- Faiz's Tanhaee. Calligraphy by and © property of Dr. Zoya Zaidi

tanhaee
phir koi aaya dil-e-zaar! nahiN, koi nahiN
rah'ro hoga, kahiN aur chala ja'aye ga
dhal chuki raat, bikharnay laga taarouN ka ghubaar
laR-khaRa-nay lagay aaiwanouN maiN khabeeda chiraagh
sO gayee rasta tuk tuk kay her ik reh guzar
ajnabi khaak nay dhundla dyay qadmouN kay suraagh
gul karo shammaiN! baRha dou meena-o-ayyagh
apnay bay khaab kiwaRouN ko muqafful kar lo
ab yahaN koi nahiN, koi nahiN aa'aye ga!
--Faiz Ahmed Faiz

This translation is by my late mentor MHK Qureshi

Loneliness
Again has someone come, sad heart---no; no one
May be a passerby ---will go somewhere else
Night declines, the stardust scatters
Drowsy lamps waver in the buildings
Every path, after long waiting, sleeps
The unfamiliar dust has blurred traces of footsteps
Put out the candles, take away wine and jug and cup
Lock up your sleepless doors
Now no one, no one will come here.

Dr. Zoya Zaidi's transcreation here.

And my humble effort.

Loneliness
Has someone come again, O Sad Heart!---no, no one!
May be a straggler, will go somewhere else
Night wanes, stardust scatters
Drowsy lamps flicker in the palaces
Every path has given up and dozed off
Drifting dust has covered footstep traces
Extinguish the lamps, remove the decanter and the cups
Lock up your dream-less doors
Now, now one shall come here...no one!