The Moghul's Final Ghazal - STRADA PLACIDO

Salaamaleykum

This poem was written by Sultan Bahadur Zafar Shah II of the mughul empire..after he was ousted by the British Imperialist army.The Sultan spent his last days in Exile in Burma.
see more pictures on Sultan Bahadur here.

Lagta nahin jee mera, ujre dayar mein
Kis ki bani hai, aalam-e-napaiydaar mein

My heart is not happy in this ruined land
Who has ever found fulfillment in this transient world?

Bulbul ko paasbaan se na sayyad se gila
Qismat mein qaid thi likhi, fasl-e-bahar mein

The nightingale has no complaint against the guard or the hunter
It was in her fate to remain caged during the spring

Keh do in hasraton se kahin aur ja basein
Itni jagah kahan hai, dil-e-daaghdaar mein

Tell these desires to go settle elsewhere
Where is there enough room for them in my wounded heart?

Ek shaakh-e-gul pe beith ke bulbul hain shaadmaan
Kaante bicha diye hain, dil-e-lalahzaar mein

The joyous nightingales sit on a flower covered bough
But thorns have been scattered throughout the flower gardens of my heart

Umr-e-daraaz maang ke laaye the char din
Do aarzu mein kat gaye, do intezar mein

I asked for a long life, and was given but four days
Two were wasted in desire, two in waiting

Din zindegi ke khatam hue, shaam hogayi
Phaila ke paaon soyenge, kunj-e-mazar mein

The days of my life come to a close, dusk approaches
I shall spread my feet in slumber, in a corner of my tomb

Kitna hai badnaseeb zafar, dafan ke liye
Do gaz zameen bhi mil na saki, ku-e-yaar mein

How ill fated is Zafar, for his burial place
He could not find two yards of space, in the lane of his beloved