Nana Jan's tribute

Mariyam az yak nisbat-e-Isa aziz
Az seh nisbat Hazrat-e-Zehra aziz
Noor e chashm e Rehmatul-il-Alameen
Aan Imam e Awwaleen o Akhireen
Bano e aan Tajdar e hal atta
Murtaza, mushkil kusha, sher e Khuda
Maader e aan Nuqta e parkaar e Ishq
Maader e aan Qafila Salaar e Ishq

- Iqbal

nightlife

Wake up with a cold sweat from the agitated slumber which replaces the long, peaceful hours of sleep of the old days. Creep up to each of three bedsides and pierce the darkness with burning eyes to be certain that every breath that is inhaled is exhaled, mumbling a word of gratitude for that. Climb up to the roof and spread out on the hard, heat-radiating terrace. Stare into the dusty skies, caught between thoughts and notions, hopes and memories, all innately contradictory, all demanding big leaps of faith. Sob, as men do in solitude, and wait for the call to prayer to sound above the lifeless. For then, as the world awakens, sleep overwhelms all consciousness of it. Telle est la vie dans l'obscurité.

deathly still

kucch hameen ko nahi ehsaan utthaney ka demagh
woh toh jab aatey hain ma'yel ba karam aatey hain
aur kucch der na guzrey shab-e-furqat se kaho
dil bhee kam dukhta hai, woh yaad bhee kam aatey hain

- faiz