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dil ko lagtii hai dilrubaa kii adaa
jii meN bastii hai Khush-adaa kii adaa
garche sab Khuub-ruu haiN Khuub vale
qatl kartii hai Mirzaa ki adaa
harf-e-bejaa hai gar boluuN
dushman-e-hosh hai piyaa kii adaa
naqsh-e-diivaar kyuN na ho aashiq
hairat-afzaa hai be-vafaa kii adaa
gul hu’e garq-e-aab-e-shabnam meN
dekh us saahib-e-hayaa kii adaa
ai “Wali” dard-e-sar kii daaruu hai
manjh-kuuN us sandalii qabaa kii adaa
Wali Dakhani
Translated by David Matthews from An Anthology of Urdu Verse in English.
My heart is stolen by my robber’s grace,
Within it dwells the fairness of her face.
A beauty’s looks are always fair, but still
The beauty of my love has power to kill.
My reasons’ words lose trach of where and whence.
For my beloved’s beauty stuns my sense.
A lover is a picture on the wall;
Her faithless grace has power to enthrall.
The rose’s face was shamed; the dew did harm,
Just see my modest one endowed with charm !
My headache, “Wali” will become much less
When I behold her sandal-scented dress.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Why why why do English translators always have to make their translations rhyme? It’s such a beautiful verse in the original Urdu, and the English translation sounds absolutely ridiculous. Argh!
“garche sab Khuub-ruu haiN Khuub vaale
qatl kartii hai Mirzaa ki adaa”
pehlaa misraa ,shaayad, yuuN hai,
” garche sab Khuub-ruu haiN Khuub, vale”
(vale = lekin, in old Urdu)
Indeed. Thank you so much, B.G.M. sahab.
no offence but the reason y there is an english translation is coz for those who luv urdu poetry but can not understand each and every word to realise the beauty of the poem too. whether the translator rhymes it or not.. thats up to them.. bt at least give us the chance to read these gorgeous verses tooo.. again, thanks sooo much for this
Great work…..can we have some more of it…Great job…I wish we have more urdu poetry lovers like Mohib Saahab…