Abhi To Mai Jawan Hoon

Author: Hafeez Jalandhari

Genre: Poetry

One of my absolute favourties… Hafeez Jalandhari was the same guy who wrote Shahnama-e-Islam and the national anthem of Pakistan. And imagine this same person writing an ode to everlasting youth! The poem has a vagabond-like sauciness, “who cares what people say” attitude, and a tribute to youth and beauty. Have attached both the original poem and the famous rendering by Malika Pukhraj and her daughter Tahira Syed.

Hawaa bhii khushagawaar hai,
Gulon pe bhi nikhaar hai
Tarannumein hazaar hai,
Bahaar purbahaar hai

 Kahaan chalaa hai saaqiyaa,
idhar to laut idhar to aa
Arey, yeh dekhtaa hai kya?
Uthaa subuu, subuu uthaa

Subuu uthaa, piyaalaa bhar,
Piyaalaa bhar ke de idhar
Chaman ki simt kar nazar,
Samaa to dekh bekhabar

Woh kaali kaali badliyaan,
Ufaq peH ho gayi ayaan
Woh ik hajum-e-maikashaan,
Hai su-e-maikadaa ravaan

Yeh kyaa gumaan hai badgumaan,
Samajh na mujh ko naatavaa
Kayaal-e-zuhad abhi kahaan?
Abhi to main jawaan hoon

Ibaadaton ka zikr hai,
Nijaat ki bhi fikr hai
Junoon hai sawaab ka,
Khayaal hai azaab kaa

Magar suno to sheikh ji,
Ajeeb shai hain aap bhi
Bhalaa shabaab-o-aashiqui!,
Alag huay bhi hain kabhi?

Hasiin jalwaa raiz hon,
Adaaein fitanaa khaiz hon
Havaaein itr baiz hon,
Toh shauq kyun na taiz hon?

Nigaah haai fitanaa gar,
Koi idhar koi udhar
Ubhaarate hon aish par,
Toh kyaa karey koi bashar?

Chalo ji qissaa muktasar,
Tumhaaraa nuqtaa-e-nazar
Durust hai to ho magar,
Abhi to main jawaan hoon

YeH gasht kohsaar ki,
YeH sair ju-e-waar ki
YeH bulbulon ke chahchahey,
YeH gulrukHon ke qah-qahey

Kissi sey mail ho gayaa,
Toh ranj-o-fikr kho gayaa
Kabhi jo waqt so gayaa,
Yeh hans gayaa who ro gayaa

Yeh ishq kii kahaaniyaan,
Yeh ras bhari jawaaniyaan
Udhar sey meharbaaniyaan,
Idhar sey lantaraaniyaan

Yeh aasmaan yeh zameen,
Nazzaraahaa-e-dilanashiin
Unhey hayaat aafareen,
Bhalaa main chhorh doon yahin

Hai maut is qadar qarib,
Mujhey na aayegaa yaqin
Nahin nahin, abhi nahin,
Nahin-nahin abhi nahin

Na gham kashood-o-bast ka,
Baland ka na past ka
Na bood ka naH hast ka,
Na vaadaa-e-alast ka

Ummid aur yaas gum,
Havaas gum qayaas gum
Nazar sey aas-paas gum,
Hamaa, bajuz gilaas gum

Na mai mein kuchh kami rahey,
Gadaah sey hamdami rahey
Nashist yeh jami rahey,
Yahi hama hami rahey

Who raag chheRh mutribaa,
Tarab-fizaa, alam-rubaa
Asar sadaa-e-saaz ka,
Jigar meiN aag de lagaa

Har ik lab pe ho sadaa,
Na haath rok saaqiyaa
Pilaaye jaa pilaaye jaa,
Abhi to main jawaan hoon