I Have Heard That People Look At Her In Amazement

Translated by Asif J. Naqshbandi

I have heard that people look at her in amazement
So I too will spend a few days in her city and see!

I have heard she has an affinity for the broken-spirited
So I too will destroy myself and see!

I have heard her delicate eye is a customer of pain
So I too shall wander through her street and see!


I have heard she too has a passion for poetry
So I will put the miracles of my skill to the test and see!

I have heard when she speaks flowers fall from her mouth
If this is the case, I will speak to her and see!

I have heard the moon gazes at her through the night
And the stars descend from the sky and see!

I have heard her doe-like eyes are deadly
I have heard that all the world’s deer gaze at her, see!

I have heard during the day butterflies tease her!
I have heard at night fireflies stop and stare, see!

I have heard her curly locks are darker than the night
I have heard that in the evening shadows walk past her and see!

I have heard her kohl-rimmed eyes are ravishing!
So the antimony-sellers look at her with envy, see!

I have heard that roses are jealous of her lips
So I will put the blame on the Spring and see!

I have heard her brow is like a mirror
The simple-hearted dress up and into it look and see!

I have heard ever since she has worn her necklace
The temperament of rubies and pearls have become ill, see!

I have heard in the Realm of Possibilities with Concept’s eye
The rope-bed looks at the angles made by her back, see!

I have heard her body is so beautifully sculpted
That flowers cut up their cloaks and see!

She is tall like a cypress but not without hope’s roses!
For on that tree buds of fruit we do see!

With her single gaze she loots the caravan o’ my heart!
So the travellers of desire look with trepidation upon her, see!

I have heard that Paradise lies near her bedroom!
The tenants there from here the flashes too do see!

If she halts the Heavens circumambulate her
If she walks the Epochs stop and look at her, see!

Who shall be so lucky as to see her unclothed?
Sometimes the walls and gates of her house only we see !

Granted these are just tales, mere hyperbole
If she is a dream we shall find its intepretation and see!

Shall I continue to stay in her city or shall I depart?
Faraz, come, let’s look at what the stars say ’bout this journey and see!



The Original Urdu Version:

sunaa hai log use aa.Nkh bhar ke dekhate hai.n
so us ke shahar me.n kuchh din Thahar ke dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai dard kii gaahak hai chashm-e-naazuk us kii
so ham bhii us kii galii se guzar kar dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai us ko bhii hai sher-o-shaayarii se shagaf
so ham bhii mojaze apane hunar ke dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai bole to baato.n se phuul jha.Date hai.n
ye baat hai to chalo baat kar ke dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai raat use chaa.Nd takataa rahataa hai
sitaare baam-e-falak se utar kar dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai hashr hai.n us kii Gazaal sii aa.Nkhe.n
sunaa hai us ko hiran dasht bhar ke dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai din ko use titaliyaa.N sataatii hai.n
sunaa hai raat ko jugnuu Thahar ke dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai raat se ba.Dh kar hai.n kaakule.n us kii
sunaa hai shaam ko saaye guzar ke dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai us kii siyaah chashmagii qayaamat hai
so us ko surmaafarosh aa.Nkh bhar ke dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai us ke labo.n se gulaab jalate hai.n
so ham bahaar par ilzaam dhar ke dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai aa_iinaa tamasaal hai jabii.n us kaa
jo saadaa dil hai.n ban sa.Nvar ke dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai jab se hamaa_il hai.n us kii gardan me.n
mizaaj aur hii laal-o-gauhar ke dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai chashm-e-tasavvur se dasht-e-imkaan me.n
palang zaave us kii kamar ke dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai us ke badan ke taraash aise hai.n
ke phuul apanii qabaaye.N katar ke dekhate hai.n

vo sarv-qad hai magar be-gul-e-muraad nahii.n
ke us shajar pe shaguufe samar ke dekhate hai.n

bas ek nigaah se luTataa hai qaafilaa dil kaa
so rah_ravaan-e-tamannaa bhii Dar ke dekhate hai.n

sunaa hai us ke shabistaan se muttasil hai bahisht
makiin udhar ke bhii jalve idhar ke dekhate hai.n

ruke to gardishe.n us kaa tavaaf karatii hai.n
chale to us ko zamaane Thahar ke dekhate hai.n

kise nasiib ke be-pairahan use dekhe
kabhii kabhii dar-o-diivaar ghar ke dekhate hai.n

kahaaniyaa.N hii.n sahii sab mubaalaGe hii sahii
agar vo Khvaab hai taabiir kar ke dekhate hai.n

ab us ke shahar me.n Thahare.n ki kuuch kar jaaye.N
’Faraz’ aao sitaare safar ke dekhate hai.n