Saturday, November 25, 2006

Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho (song)



Noori and Jaswinder Singh in Orpheum Theater, Pheonix. Nov.24.06

Tum Itna Jo (song)



Noori and Jaswinder Singh at Phoenix Orpheum Theater. Nov.24.06. Kaifi Aur Main

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

مجبور Oblige (Poem)



اینجا چه زود هرکه گم و گور می شود
آدم چقدرازوطنش دور می شود

ای دل چراغ رابطه ها را نگاه کن
بنگرچگونه پنجره کم نور می شود

بیهوده میزنی چقدر دم از اختیار
وقتیکه آدم اینهمه مجبور می شود

آخرببین چگونه تفنگ یتیم ما
چوب عصای یک عده شب کورمی شود

حتی پلنگ سرکش طبع بلند ما
اینجا خری ستاده بر آخور می شود

تاتشنگی نکرده زجان سیر مان عفیف
باید دوید- ورنه عطش زور می شود

شاعر: اسدالله عفیف باختری

(a rough translation)

Here, in this messy world, people misplace.
Men are forced to leave their homeland, their beloved.
O my heart! Keep the lights of relations burning, regardless of distance?
Hey man, do not brag about freedom.
You are not free.
Every thing you do is forced.
You do it in order to survive.
Go forward and resist the thirst, otherwise it will overcome you.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Old Friends (poem)

Was thinking of old friends today,
and how many of them have slipped away.
Moved, got married, or stopped calling so much,
found new friends, got busy, and just lost touch.
It reminded me of falling leaves.
Every autumn the leaves fall from the trees.
Some stay longer than others, but eventually -
Each leaf must fall, I'm told,
leaving the tree alone to face the cold.
Why is it that in the time of utmost need
the leaves would seek to leave the tree?
And when we need our friends around
we look and they can not be found?
Of course these friendships come and go
and in the spring new leaves will grow.
But I prefer autumn friends of old
with crackling laughter and colors bold.
It saddens me now I must admit
how somehow, someway, I did forget
laughing with old friends of mine
during summers when the sun would shine.
And then I thought of you.
That one stubborn leaf that won't let go.
That clings despite the winds that blow.
Fighting ice, and snow, and winter's stings
hanging on right through till spring.
So I guess that's what you are to me -
The very last leaf to leave the tree.
I know it seems silly, but it's true.
When I see that last leaf...I think of you.

بعد از هزار سال (poem)

بعداز هزار سال اگر باز بینمت
همزاد من! همینم و عاشق ترینمت

باصد هزارخشم اگراز خود برانیم
باصد هزارچشم من اندر کمینمت

گفتی خیال خام خزان از قفای ماست
گفتم قسم به باغ که باز از پسینمت

تاپای مرگ سجده گهم آستان تست
تاخاک گور گلکده ام خوشه چینمت

دیگر مگو هماره "عفیف" از وفا مخوان
آخربگو چگونه کشم از یقینمت

شاعر: اسد الله عفیف باختری