Date: Sat, 28 Sep 96 11:03:34 EST
From: Lalit Koul
Subject: Ghazal !!!

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Woh apnay chehray mein sau aaftaab rakhtay hain,
Isiliyey to woh rukh pay nakaab rakhtay hain !

[Her face is as bright as hundred Sun's,
That is why she keep the veil on her face !]

Woh paas baithay to aaatee hai dilruba khushboo,
Woh apnay hothon pay khilta gulab rakhtay hain !

[If she sits besides me, I can feel the exotic fragrance,
She keeps a fully blossomed rose on her lips !]
(which also can be interpreted as : 'her lips are like fully blossomed rose')

Har ik wark mein tum hi tum ho jaan-e-mehboobi,
Hum apnay dil ki kuch aaisee kitab rakhtay hain !

[My beloved, it is just you who is in every leaf,
That is how I keep my book of hearts !]

Jahan-e-ishq mein Sohni kahin dikhayee dey,
Hum apni aankh mein kitnay Chenab rakhtay hain !

[I wish I could find 'Sohni' anywhere in this world of love,
I keep so many 'Chenab's' in my eyes !]

('Sohni' was the girl in the love-story of 'Sohni-Mahiwaal' in Punjab.
She died by drowning in the river of Chenab while trying to swim
across to meet her beloved Mahiwaal. She was using an earthen pitcher
to keep her afloat.)

Woh apnay chehray mein sau aaftaab rakhtay hain,
Isiliyey to woh rukh pay nakaab rakhtay hain !

- Hasrat Jaipuri

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Lalit