If These Walls Could Talk…

If these walls could talk
You’d know there’s nothing left
Of love, of life
There’s nothing, just dread

Shadows taking over my heart
Muffling my soul’s cry
I failed to live my part
And soon it’s time to die

If these walls could talk
You’d know the fear eating me from within
Neither of death, nor of pain
But of the future so grim

Waves crashing on my doorstep
Calling out my name
Choking my laughter
Announcing the end of this game

If these walls could talk
The silent whispers would scream to you
Of broken memories
That once felt so true

The tears drowning in the din
Lost in the color of the skies
In those feigned smiles
And those incomprehensible lies

If these walls could talk
You would be right here
By my side, you would walk
Casting away my fear

The smiles that seem so distant
Would perhaps be with me once again
If these walls could talk
Perhaps you would know I’m in pain

I wrote this poem earlier this morning – I don’t know what’s going on but I’m obviously not in my happy-medium LOL. Oh well, life goes on 😀

Bahadur Shah Zafar – Last Mughal King

                        

The 19th and 20th century of Indian history has seen immensely talented poets. Be it Indian freedom fighters or the kings and courtiers, the country has been bestowed with various people who have penned beautiful words.

One of my favorite poems was written as his epitaph (in Urdu) by Bahadur Shah Zafar – the last Mughal Emperor of India. Even though in his time, the Mughal empire was hardly an empire and he had little power under the British rule, he was viewed as a figure who could unite all Indians, Hindu and Muslim alike. I guess a reason for this may be that even though his father was Muslim, his mother Lal Bai was a Hindu. Despite his heritage and the glory his ancestors brought to the Mughal lineage, he was the least threatening and least ambitious of monarchs.

Anyway, to understand the sentiments behind the words he wrote, one must remember that when British victory became certain, he was compelled to surrender by the British forces. After killings of many male members of his family, he was exiled to Rangoon, Burma (Now Yangon, Myanmar) in 1858 along with his wife (or one of his 4 wives), Zeenat Mahal and some other members of his family.

These words bring forth the feelings of a man destined to be an emperor, but an emperor who saw the downfall of the empire his ancestors had once held their pride in… A man destined to be ruler of a beautiful land, and yet being banished from his own country.

Lagta Nahin Hai Dil Mera Ujde Dayar Mein
Kiski Bani Hai Aalam-e-Napaidar Mein

Bulbul ko baghban se na sayyaad se gila
Kismat mein kayd thi likhi fasle-bahaar mein

Kehdo In Hasraton Se Kahin Aur Ja Basen
Itni Jagah Kahan Hai Dil-e-Daagdaar Mein

Umr-e-Daraz Mang Ke Laye The Chaar Din
Do Aarzoo Mein Kat Gaye Do Intezaar Mein

Din zindagi ke khatm hue shaam aa gayi
phaila ke paanv soyenge koonje mazaar mein

Itna Hai Badnaseeb “Zafar” Dafn Ke Liye
Do Gaz Zameen Bhi Na Mili Koo-e-Yaar Mein

English Translation:

My heart is not happy in this despoiled land
Who has ever felt fulfilled in this transient world

The nightingale laments neither to the gardener nor to the hunter
Imprisonment was written in fate in the season of spring

Tell these emotions to go dwell elsewhere
Where is there space for them in this besmirched heart?

I had requested for a long life a life of four days
Two passed by in praying/wishing, and two in waiting.

The days of life are over, Its evening of death
Now I can sleep without any stress forever in my tomb

How unlucky is Zafar! For burial…
Even two yards of land were not to be had, in the beloved land

** By the way, that picture is probably the only actual photograph found of Bahadur Shah Zafar

An Indian Lullaby <3

                          

This is the lullaby I slept to for ages… I was not well today and my mom decided to sing it to me while I attempted to take a nap. It brought back some beautiful memories and so,  I’m going to post it here with it’s english translation. It’s just at tiny four line tune, but the words are very soothing to me. It’s these small things in life that I treasure the most ♥

Hindi:                                                  English Translation:

Nunhi kali sone chali                          Little bud is going to sleep

Hawa dheere Aana                               Oh breeze blow gently

Rang bhare sapne liye                          Bringing with you colourful dreams

Jhoola jhula jaana                                Rock her cradle softly

No One

You see the pain that lies in her eyes

But, alas, her eyes are dry

You see the anger that burns from her gaze

The madness that sets her eyes ablaze

You see the fear that closes her eyes

The smile she wears is but a disguise

You see the hope that is finally dead

She cannot trust for her heart has bled

You see the love that lies within

But she shall never love again

You see death’s hand that has glazed her eyes

No one saw her die inside…

Like A Season…

Like A Season…

The smiles light up the faces

While the clouds hide behind the skies of dusk

I see not the children play

As the day falls into the abyss and turns into rust

I’ll come and go as seasons do

Like a tear that’s fallen into the sea

Vast like the darkened skies,

Yet hollow as my silent scream

I watch the world go by

As the seconds tick away in my head

You’ll come and go like seasons

That’s what she had once said

The shadow pierces through the lights of the day

Defying every law of nature

The day is turning away from me

While I tell myself it’s nothing major

The smiles start to fade

As the tears replace my only hope

I thought laughter could fix it

But who was I to know?

My world is crashing in front of me

As I search for words to say

My actions are all that’s left behind

“she came and went like a season”, they’ll say…