pani

zindagi, maut jang, aur qehat

kis kis pani per rOaiNgay hum

is barafzaar maiN tou pani

pani hotay rehtay haiN hum

poessay: salamanca, ny and mrs salamanca

leisurely drive south

gps co-pilot

and m (the) guiding angel

through the rolling meadows

small town usa

listening to iqbal bano sing faiz

hum daikhaIN gay

hum daikhaiN gay

hum daikhaiN gay

laazim hay kay hum daikhaiN gay

woh din jiska waada hay

a road sign said

salamanca 3 miles

and thoughts veered to

(unheralded)

noon meem rashid

khuda hash'r maiN hoga mera madadgar

kay maiN nay liyay haiN mrs. salamanca kay hONtON kay bOsay

may the lord on the day or eckoning be my redeemer

for i have planted kises on mrs salamca's lips

in the shed

farming equipment

in the meadows

cows

not worrying about any day

of reckoning

smalltown america

winding down

clean roads

disciplined driving

no outtages

of power or bulletmotions

far far from the frustrating

breaking news pattis

monotonous repititions

of he-said, they said

change the names

and still no one says anything

meaningful

more hills and vales

road sign declares

the highest point

east of Mississippi

(i thought mt. mitchell in nc

but signs come and go

who am i to futilely argue)

more farms and villages

one word world - serenity

far far from the frustrating fusion

of depravity, serenity

khuda hash'r maiN hoga mera madadgar

kay maiN gunahgaar

uroos al balad say hazarouN meel do'or

kya qabil nahin is sukoon ka

may the lord be my redeemer on the day of reckoning

this sinner

thousands of miles removed from

the city of lights

deserves not this peace

(and this alliteration)

hum mehkoomON kayy paaoooN talay

yeh dharti dhaR dhaR dhaRkay gi

aur ahl e karam kay sir ooper

jub bijli kaR kaR kaRkay gi

gar dil hay aapka paas dharaktay hua

tou laraz jai ga yeh paRh ker

your heart will miss a beat

if you can detect it, friend

and you will have no choice

but praise faiz

i will resume this

never-ending journey

to return home

and yet again leave

for places yonder

seeking that elusive peace

and hopefully

sharing my khalish

which 'discomfort' cannot encapsulate

daihlaiNgay ji daikhlaiNgay

will see, will see