Dasht-e-tanhaai

Dasht-e-tanhaai is a nazm by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The title translates to Desert of loneliness. I decided to translate it because I think the poem is too beautiful to suffer at the hands of petty things like language barriers.

Dasht-e-tanhaai mein, ai jaan-e-jahaan, larzaan hain
Teri avaaz ke saanye, tere honthon ke saraab

In the desert of my loneliness, oh love of my life, quiver the shadows of your voice, the mirages of your lips.

Dasht-e-tanhaai mein, doori ke khas-o-khaak tale
Khil rahe hain tere pehlu ke saman aur gulaab.

In my desert of loneliness, buried within the ash and dust of distance, blossom the jasmines and roses of your proximity.

Uth rahi hai kaheen, qurbat se, teri saans ki aanch,
Apni khushbuu mein sulagti hui, maddham maddham

From somewhere close, rises the flame of your breaths, smoldering in its own fragrance, slowly.

Door ufuq paar, chamakti hui, qatra qatra

Gir rahi hai teri dil daar nazar ki shabnam

Far beyond the horizon, glittering, bit by bit falls the dew of your gracious gaze.

Is qadr pyaar se, ai jaan-e-jahaan rakkha hai,
Dil ke rukhsaar pe, is vaqt teri yaad ne haath

Love of my life, I feel your memories caressing the blushing cheeks of my heart, with such delicacy, such love, 

Yoon gumaan hota hai, garche hai abhi subah-e-firaaq
Dhal gaya hijr ka din, aa bhi gaye vasl ki raat

That although it's still the morning that marks our separation, the day of parting is gone and the night of our union already feels close.


Meesha Shafi has woven another magic of a very different kind in this very beautiful rendition of Dasht-e-tanhaai.
Dasht-e-Tanhaai, CokeStudio