/u/AvgPakistani in the previous thread.
My family has always preferred urdu, but it was always conversational. I didn't start to take an interest in the richness of the language until my A-Levels when I met a girl who was crazy about urdu poetry.
Once I actually got into it, everything changed. I can't imagine how much I was missing out on - I love Iqbal's philosophy and Ghalib's rebellion. I love Jalib's boldness and the strength of his words but most of all, I love how literature has changed the way I view the world.
I'd like to share one of my favorite ghazzal-qawwalis that I think has been completely destroyed by Bollywood a while back. It was written by Fana Buland Shehri and later performed by Ustadh Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
The innocence and mischief in the verses gets to me every time. They start off as innocent but then halfway through you realize what's acceptable isn't enough to express real passion, so the words move on to stronger, less socially acceptable themes. And the way the story is told is astounding - there's constant back and forth, there's a build up, and a climax - everything said so perfectly! I can't explain what I have in my mind right now and Im pretty sure i'm rambling but I really hope you guys enjoy this as much as I do.
Mere Rashk-e-Qamar
mere rashk-e-qamar tu ne pehli nazar, jab nazar se milaaii maza aa gaya
O my envy of the moon, when your eyes first met mine, I was overjoyed
barq si gir gaii kaam hi kar gaii, aag aisi lagaaii maza aa gaya
Lightning struck and destroyed me; you ignited such a fire that it made me ecstatic
jaam mein ghol kar husn ki mastiyaan, chaandni muskuraaii maza aa gaya
Mixing beauty’s mischief into my drink, the moonlight smiled – how enjoyable!
chaand ke saaey mein ae mere saaqiya, tu ne aisi pilaaii maza aa gaya
In the moon’s shadow, O my cup-bearer, you made me drink such a wine that I was ecstatic
nasha sheeshe mein angraaii lene laga, bazm-e-rindaan mein saaghar khanakne lage
Intoxication spread through the bottle, and goblets clinked in the party of debauchees
maikade pe barasne lagiin mastiyaan, jab ghata ghir ke chaaii maza aa gaya
Mischief descended upon the tavern, and when storm clouds poured down, I was overjoyed
behijaabana woh saamne aa gae, aur jawaani jawaani se takra gaii
Unveiled, she came before me, and her youthful splendor collided with mine
aankh un ki lari yuun meri aankh se, dekh kar yeh laraaii maza aa gaya
Her eyes clashed with mine in such a way that seeing this fight made me joyful
aankh mein thi hayaa har mulaaqaat par, surkh aariz hue wasl ki baat par
Modesty was in her eyes every time we met; her cheeks blushed red when I spoke of our union
us ne sharma ke mere sawaalaat pe, aise gardan jhukaaii maza aa gaya
Embarrassed by my questions, she lowered her head in such a way that I was delighted
shaikh saahib ka eemaan mit hi gaya, dekh kar husn-e-saaqi pighal hi gaya
The shaikh’s faith was obliterated; upon seeing the cup-bearer’s beauty, it melted away
aaj se pehle ye kitne maghroor the, lut gaii paarsaaii maza aa gaya
Before today, how proud he was; now his piety has been lost – how enjoyable!
ae Fana shukar hai aaj baad-e-fana, us ne rakhli mere pyaar ki aabroo
O Fana, today I am grateful that after my demise, she has maintained the honor of my love
apne haathon se us ne meri qabar par, chaadar-e-gul charhaaii maza aa gaya
With her own hands, she spread a sheet of flowers on my grave – how delightful!
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The original qawwali by Ustadh Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. And a big shout out to Hamza Shad for the roman urdu transliteration and english translation.