Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Borrowed Words

It was but yesterday we met in a dream. 

You have sung to me in my aloneness, and I of your longings have built a tower in the sky. 

But now our sleep has fled and our dream is over, and it is no longer dawn. 
The noontide is upon us and our half waking has turned to fuller day, and we must part. 

If in the twilight of memory we should meet once more, we shall speak again together and you shall sing to me a deeper song. 

And if our hands should meet in another dream, we shall build another tower in the sky. 


And, as it has become customary in this blog for the last few posts; another Ghazal by Jagjit Singh from the album Love Is Blind:


Lyrics:
samajhate the magar phir bhii na rakkhii duuriyaa.N hamane 
charaaGo.n ko jalaane me.n jalaa lii u.Ngaliyaa.N hamane
ko-ii titalii hamaare paas aatii bhii to kyaa aatii 
sajaaye a.ng bhar kaaGaz ke phuul-pattiyaa.N hamane
yuu.N hii ghuT ghuT ke mar jaanaa hame.n ma.nzuur thaa lekin 
kisii kam-baKht par zaahir na kii majabuuriyaa.N hamane
ham us mahafil me.n bas ek baar sach bolane vaalii 
zubaa.N par umr bhar mahasuus kii chi.ngaariyaa.N hamane
Lyrics are taken from here

Loose translation:
I understood. But never kept a distance/
Burnt my fingers trying to light a few lamps.

How could any butterfly flutter around me?
I always decorated the place with paper flowers.

I was ready to die feeling suffocated/
But never displayed my limitations to a heartless person.

Uttered the truth only once in that gathering/
And, felt embers on my tongue for a lifetime.

(I hum this Ghazal after every reckless adventure I take without discounting my limitations and then fail miserably. I promise to insulate myself emotionally after every fall. But, having the nature of a dog’s tail, which never straightens whatever you do. I never learn). 

This is the 49th post on this blog. I’ve never took blogging seriously. So, no celebrations on reaching half century or anything. But, it has been a heck of an experience (“life-changing” wouldn’t be an exaggeration). First of all, I found the courage to expose my disability. I wouldn’t have done that if I’d continued writing in print media alone (in fact, the Feature Editors of the newspapers I wrote for realised the severity of my physical condition only after accepting and agreeing to publish my first submissions). There are a few people who probe if I’ve a dent in my personality. But, that is a small issue. Above all, blogging has won me a few good friends, who enrich my life on a daily basis. Thank you chums.

8 comments:

MM said...

This is a cloudy morning out here that has just seen the sun snuggle out, with this sweet post of yours.

Thx for Khalil and thx for Jagjit!

And congrats on the half century as well!
:D

Amrita said...

Both Gibran and Jagjit are excellent.

My Pops had given my mother a beautifully illustrated K Gibran book, but somehow it got spoilt.

Unknown said...

Paresh, That dogs tail is called determination.. we all salute the same..You may not take your blogging seriously, but for us it is very serious and we always waiting for your new blogs.. i wont wish you for this 50..am waiting to wish you on 500

Alexis said...

Nice post. KG is one of my favorites. Same with JS. And regarding writing about disability, you have succeeded competing with people without any challenges. Do continue writing... You have a long way to go and great things to achieve in the literary world. Wishing you all the best and expecting more posts...
Alexis

Amritorupa Kanjilal said...

thats another favourite ghazal of mine. we seem to share tastes :)

Ash said...

Totally love Gibran!!

Congratulations on your 50th post. I look forward to seeing more of your brilliant writing!

Anonymous said...

Hi!

I understand this is your 49th post....so await the 50th...the 500th as someone else said and even the 5 billionth!!!!....and stil more....

Enjoyed the music, the thoughts, the determination ....and look forward to many many more.

Keep writing with that chuckle on your face :)

Take care. Warm regards,
SN

Amrita said...

hi paresh i tagged you on my blog, please check