Chirāgh-e-Khamooshi (The Lamp of Silence)

ग़ज़ल / Ghazal

हुस्न-ए-ख़ामोशी को भी आवाज़ दी हमने कभी
Husn-e-khamooshi ko bhi aawaaz di humne kabhi
(Even to the beauty of silence, we once gave a voice)
ख़ुद तराशी थी जो बस्ती, छोड़ दी हमने कभी
Khud taraashi thi jo basti, chhod di humne kabhi
(The very town we carved with our hands, we once left behind)

रास्ते अपनी जगह पर मुंतज़िर ही रह गए
Raaste apni jagah par muntazir hi reh gaye
(The pathways remained waiting in their solitary place)
शौक़ की ज़ंजीर को जब तोड़ दी हमने कभी
Shauq ki zanjeer ko jab tod di humne kabhi
(The moment we chose to break the chains of longing)

रात भर जलती रही इक याद के परदे तले
Raat bhar jalti rahi ik yaad ke parde talay
(All night it burned beneath the veil of memory)
वो जो बुझती शम्अ थी, फिर मोड़ दी हमने कभी
Woh jo bujhti shama thi, phir mod di humne kabhi
(That dying flame, we gently turned toward the breeze)

Poet's Note

This matla and following couplets dwell on the paradox of departure: how the places and thoughts we deliberate over the most are often those we must leave untended in order to preserve their grace.