A Poem For Beirut

As Beirut is caught, yet again, between Israeli army on one side and Hizbollah on the other, I remember this poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. As some of us know, Faiz went into exile to Beirut and lived there from 1978-1982. He composed this nazm in June 1982, almost 24 years ago. Unfortunately, the clock has turned back for Beirut.

aik naGhma Karbalaa-e-Beirut ke liye

Beirut, nigaar-e-bazm-e-jahaaN
Beirut, badiil-e-baaGh-e-jinaaN

bacchoN kii haNstii aaNkhoN ke
jo aaiine chaknaa-chuur hu’e
ab un ke sitaaroN kii lau se
is shah’r kii raateN raushan haiN
aur ruKhshaaN hai arz-e-Lebanon

Beirut, nigaar-e-bazm-e-jahaaN
jo chehre lahuu ke Ghaaze kii
ziinat se sivaa purnuur hu’e
ab unke rangiiN partau se
is shah’r kii galiiyaaN raushan haiN
aur taabaaN hai arz-e-Lebanon

Beirut, nigaar-e-bazm-e-jahaaN
har viiraaN ghar, har ek Khandar
ham-paayaa-e-qasr-e-Daaraa hai
har Ghaazii rashk-e-Askandar
har duKhtar hamsar-e-Lailaa hai
ye shah’r azal se qaayam hai
ye shah’r abad tak daayam hai

Beirut, nigaar-e-bazm-e-jahaaN
Beirut, badiil-e-baaGh-e-jinaaN

Faiz Ahmed Faiz, June 1982 (Beirut)

——

A song for the battle-field of Beirut

Beirut, adornment of this assembled world.
Beirut, exquisite as the gardens of Paradise.

Shattered mirrors
of the smiling eyes of children,
now star-lit
illuminate this city at night
and luminous is the land of Lebanon.

Beirut, adornment of this assembled world!
Those faces, [on them] blood as rouge
resplendent beyond beauty,
now their elegant splendour
glitter the lanes of this city
and radiant is the land of Lebanon.

Beirut, adornment of this assembled world.
Every deserted home, each one of the ruins
is equal in dignity to the citadels of Darius
[and] every warrior makes Alexander envious
[and] every daughter is same as Laila.

This city is standing since the beginning of time
This city would exist till the end of time.

Beirut, adornment of this assembled world.
Beirut, exquisite as the gardens of Paradise.

P.S. The translation is mine. I have realised that it is not easy to translate Urdu poetry and Faiz is a notch above the rest. Suggestions to make the translation better are welcome.