نیتِ شوق بھر نہ جائے کہیں
niyyat-e-shauq bhar na jaa.e kahīñ
May the intensity of desire not become satiated somewhere
ناصر کاظمی
نیتِ شوق بھر نہ جائے کہیں تُو بھی دِل سے اتر نہ جائے کہیں
niyyat-e-shauq bhar na jaa.e kahīñ tū bhī dil se utar na jaa.e kahīñ
May the intensity of desire not become satiated somewhere; May you also not descend from my heart somewhere.
آج دیکھا ہے تجھ کو دیر کے بعد آج کا دِن گزر نہ جائے کہیں
aaj dekhā hai tujh ko der ke ba.ad aaj kā din guzar na jaa.e kahīñ
Today I have seen you after a long time; May this day not pass by somewhere (without making the most of it).
نہ مِلا کر اُداس لوگوں سے حُسن تیرا بکھر نہ جائے کہیں
na milā kar udaas logoñ se husn terā bikhar na jaa.e kahīñ
Do not meet with sad people; Lest your beauty scatter/fade away somewhere.
آرزو ہے کہ تُو یہاں آئے اور پھر عُمر بھر نہ جائے کہیں
aarzū hai ki tū yahāñ aa.e aur phir umr bhar na jaa.e kahīñ
My wish is that you come here; And then may you not leave for the rest of my life somewhere.
جی جلاتا ہوں اور سوچتا ہوں رائگاں یہ ہنر نہ جائے کہیں
jī jalātā huuñ aur sochtā huuñ rā.egāñ ye hunar na jaa.e kahīñ
I burn my heart (suffer pain) and think; May this skill (of suffering) not go to waste somewhere.
آؤ کچھ دیر رو ہی لیں 'ناصرؔ' پھر یہ دریا اتر نہ جائے کہیں
aao kuchh der ro hī leñ 'nāsir' phir ye dariyā utar na jaa.e kahīñ
Come, let's just cry for a while, 'Nasir'; Lest this river (of tears/emotion) subside somewhere.
📖Metaphorical & Poetic Meaning
Nasir Kazmi's ghazal is characterized by its melancholic charm and the poignant depiction of emotional vulnerability.
The Fragility of Desire and Love
The opening couplet sets a tone of anxiety, fearing that the intensity of love might wane or that the beloved's place in the heart might diminish, highlighting the precarious nature of deep affection.
Seizing the Moment
The poet expresses urgency upon seeing the beloved after a long time, emphasizing the desire to savor the moment before it irrevocably passes.
Protecting Beauty
A unique concern is voiced, where the poet advises the beloved to avoid sad company, fearing that their vibrant beauty might bikhar (scatter or fade) if exposed to sorrow, illustrating a protective and almost superstitious love.
Eternal Presence
The lover's ultimate wish is for the beloved's permanent presence, desiring not just an arrival but an eternal stay.
The Value of Suffering
The poet reflects on his self-inflicted pain, questioning if his 'skill' in suffering (the deep capacity to love and hurt) is rā.egāñ (going to waste). This suggests that for a true lover, even pain has a sacred purpose, and its loss would be a greater tragedy.
The Urgency of Emotion
The maqta (final couplet) is a powerful call to embrace and express sorrow. The 'river' (dariyā) here symbolizes a flood of emotions or tears. The poet urges to cry now, fearing that this intense emotional capacity might utar (subside or dry up), leaving one unable to express profound grief.
📖Glossary of Highlighted Words
Meaning: The intention/intensity of desire.
Meaning: To descend from the heart; to lose importance or affection.
Meaning: To scatter; to spread out; to lose form/radiance.
Meaning: Wasted; futile; useless.
Meaning: Skill; art; talent (here, the capacity for intense emotion/suffering).
Meaning: River (metaphor for a flood of tears or emotion).
Meaning: To subside; to go down (like water level); to decrease.
▶️Listen to the Poem
Sung by Noor Jehan