Poems, music, paintings and sculptures have always enthused me and I sometimes wonder, how these people could write so beautifully, compose such enchanting melodies, paint masterpieces or carve such elegant things from stone.
Allama Iqbal was one the greatest poets of the last century and I am presenting in this blog one of his famous poems from his poetry book "Bang-e-dara" i.e. "The Call of the Marching Bell".
The poem is first presented in Urdu (transliteration) followed by a translation. In my opinion the translation falls far short of conveying the poet's thoughts, after all language itself is a crutch to express ourselves. But that is the best I could manage. So here goes...
Sitaron se aage jahaan aur bhi hain
Abhi ishq ke imtihaan aur bhi hain
Taahii zindagi se nahin ye fazayen
Yahan sainkdon karawan aur bhi hain
Kanaa'at na kar aalam-e-rang-o-bu par
Chaman aur bhi, aashiyan aur bhi hain
Agar kho gaya ek nasheman to kya gham
Maqamat-e-aah-o-fugaan aur bhi hain
Tu shaheen hai parwaz hai kaam tera
Tere saamne aasman aur bhi hain
Isi roz-o-shab mein ulajh kar na rah ja
Ke tere zamin-o-makan aur bhi hain
Gaye din ke tanha tha main anjuman mein
Yahan ab mere raazadan aur bhi hain
The Translation
Beyond the stars there are other worlds of light
There are more trials of love, besides those on earth.
These spheres are not empty of the pulse of life
There are a hundred forms of life, latent in these spheres
Be not content with this earth, although it has a myriad of colours
There are more gardens, more worlds to be explored
Grieve not if thou losest this abode of sorrow
There are other abodes for thee, for the sighs of yearning and grief
Thou art of eagle breed, born for ethereal flights
Thou hast, beyond those narrowing skies, loftier heavens to roam
Do not get entangled in these deceptive days and nights
Thou has other worlds, beyond linear time and space
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