Muhawaraa Maa Bain Khuda-o-Insan (Dialogue between God and Man) By Allama Iqbal

Man To God:

Ae Khuda, shikwah-e-arbaab-e-wafa bhi sun lay

Khoogar-e-hamd say thoda saa gilaa bhi sun lay’

“O God, listen to this remonstrance from your faithful

Listen to the lament of those who forever praise you”

God starts first, remarking to man:

‘Jahan raaz yak aab-o-gil aafridum

Tu Iran-o-tataar-o-zang aafridi

Man az khaak polaad naab aafridum

Tu shamsheer-o-teer-o-tafang aafridi

Tabar aafridi nihal-e-chaman ra

Qafas sakhtee tair-e-naghma zan ra’

“I created this world from the same water and earth

You created Iran, Tartaria and Nubia

I forged from dust, iron’s pristine ore

You fashioned the sword, arrow and gun

To fell the garden tree, you made the axe

You fashioned the cage to imprison the singing bird”

Man replies:

‘Tu shab aafridi, chiragh aafridum

Safaal aafridi, ayaagh aafridum

Bayabaan-o-kohsaar-o-raagh aafridi

Khayabaan-o-gulzar-o-bagh aafridum

Man aanam kay az sang aaina saazum

Man aanam kay az zehr noshinaa sazum’

“You created night, I the lamp

You created clay, and I the cup

You-desert, mountain peak and valley

I-flower bed, park and orchard

It is I who grind a mirror out of stone

And brew elixir from poison”

The Day of My Death

Each morning when I open my eyes,

I would think to myself and say.

I, not events have the power to make me happy or unhappy today.

I can choose which it shall be, because I live my life with much sway.

Since yesterday is dead, and tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet.

I can truly say,

I lived a long time, here on this land

With its beauty and despair that go hand in hand.

I learned a lot, while I watched the hourglass tip its sand.

The highest wisdom that I shall own, freedom and life are earned by those alone.

I can laugh and say I still haven’t grown.

Even if it is a time to moan,

I can look towards the sky as the raindrops mix with the tears I cry.

Tears of joy I may imply.

As James Thurber once said,

“All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, to and why”

There were times when I did not pray

And I simply said, “I could not stay”.

Now God has brought me to his garden to play.

So, the end is near.

I take my final bow, and face my final curtain.

To my family and friends,

I’ll state my case of which I am certain.

I will only say this once, so listen up I’ll surely be clear.

I lived a life that was completely full; I’ve travelled each and every highway,

And more, much more than this,

I did it MY WAY… 

The Village Idiot

Chaim Soutine - The Village Idiot
In villages from which their childhood came,

Seeking necessity, they had been taught.

Necessity by nature is the same,

No matter how or by whom it may be sought.

It was perhaps others, who seemed to withdraw,

“Resented by robbers, who were outlawed by the law”.

But, it’s not comfort that I seek,

I live for danger, for sin, for goodness,

What I seek is the freedom of being selfless.

I pray for I have lived a life of sin,

I worship for I have lived a life of despair.

Pray for the pain that’s trapped in the heart,

But, if that very heart is the reason for your pain, then where should you start?

Courage is your only virtue,

Believe it so, with that every soulless part.

The village idiot told himself, there’s one in every town,

This poor soul had no clue, for he was bound by ridicule and frown.

Tears from weeping,

Lost in the silent streets.

Most passed him by without even a sigh!

He sat there dirt and all, with this thought,

Only to mumble the echoes of the wars he had fought.