Translation: Turn Off

चाँद तन्हा है आसमाँ तन्हा
दिल मिला है कहाँ- कहाँ तन्हा

chaand tanha hai aasmaan tanha
dil mila hai kahaan-kahaan tanha

Lonely is the moon, the sky is lonely
In many a place a heart is found lonely

–

बुझ गई आस छुप गया तारा
थरथराता रहा धुआँ तन्हा

bujh gayi aas chhup gaya taara
thartharaata raha dhuaan tanha

Hope extinguished, the star disappeared from sight
The quivering smoke remained behind, lonely

–

ज़िंदगी क्या इसीको कहते हैं
जिस्म तन्हा है और जाँ तन्हा

zindagi kya iseeko kehte hain
jism tanha hai aur jaan tanha

Alas! what life is this wherein
The body is alone, and the soul lonely

–

हमसफ़र कोई गर मिले भी कहीं
दोनों चलते रहे तन्हा तन्हा

humsafar koyi gar mile bhi kahin
donon chalte rahe tanha tanha

Even if one (/I) did meet a companion
The two (/We) walked along aloof, lonely

–

जलती-बुझती-सी रौशनी के परे
सिमटा-सिमटा-सा एक मकाँ तन्हा

jalti-bujhti-si raushani ke pare
simta-simta-sa ek makaan tanha

Beyond the ambit of the flickering lights
In the dark, stands a house – withdrawn, lonely

–

राह देखा करेगा सदियों तक
छोड़ जाएँगे ये जहाँ तन्हा

raah dekha karega sadiyon tak
chhod jaayenge ye jahaan tanha

It shall yearn for me for ages to come
I will depart leaving this world lonely

—

Posted: 28-Feb-2021, Translation: 27-Feb-2021