Khaak Urayi Khaak Sameti Khaak Apna Sarmaya Hai
Urdu Poetry by Nawaz Zafar
Urdu Poem (Nazm): Khaak
Recitation: Raheel Farooq
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Nawaz Zafar is a distinguished Urdu poet hailing from Mian Channu, Punjab, Pakistan. As a lecturer and head of the English Literature department at the Government Postgraduate College in Mian Channu, Zafar has significantly contributed to the academic and literary communities. His poetry is renowned for its profound emotional depth and the articulation of existential angst. His works resonate deeply with themes of love, loss, and the human condition, reflecting a mature and contemplative voice in contemporary Urdu literature.
Khaak
(Transliterated to Roman Urdu)
Khaak urai khaak sameti khaak apna sarmaaya hai
Mat poochho saintis baras mein kya khoya kya paaya hai
Teri surat jhaank rahi hai har ik phool ki rangat se
Tera lehja bol raha hai gulzaron ki nakhat se
Harjai teri yaktaai dekh raha hoon hairat se
Mere jaise diwano ko achhe dhyaan lagaya hai
Chaar dahaaiyan hone ko hain is duniya mein aaye ko
Ab tak main pehchaan na paaya apne aur paraye ko
Sach poochho to dhoondh raha hoon apni zaat ke saaye ko
Apna aap kahaan hai apna yeh bhi dhoka khaya hai
Mom ki gudiyaayen bhi dekhin aur kaaghaz ke putle bhi
Man ki mail ke maare dekhe tan ke ujle ujle bhi
Dil ka baalak gaahe gum sum gaahe balliyon uchhle bhi
Goya paanch baras ka bachha mela dekhne aaya hai
Tanhai ka zeher bhi chaata majlis mein tazheek sahi
Ishq mein taana bhi nazraana gaali bhi tabreek sahi
Mera haal na poocha us ne sheh rag se nazdeek sahi
Anjane mein jis ki khaatir kya kya haal banaya hai
Teen dahaaiyan kya dekhi hain teen janaaze dekhe hain
Jis jis arsa se bhi guzra hoon khamyaaze dekhe hain
Khushiyon ke tehwaar bhi sadmon ke darwaaze dekhe hain
Sochta hoon arteeswaan saal bhi kya saughaaten laaya hai
Khaak urai khaak sameti khaak apna sarmaaya hai
Mat poochho saintis baras mein kya khoya kya paaya hai
English Translation of the Poem
Dust
Scattered dust, gathered dust, dust is my asset
Don't ask what I lost and gained in thirty-seven years
Your face peeks from the hue of every flower
Your voice speaks through the fragrance of gardens
Faithless one, I see your singularity with wonder
For madmen like me, it has given a good engagement in life
Four decades have passed since I came into this world
Yet I have not recognized the difference between friend and foe
Honestly, I am searching for the shadow of my own self
Where is my own self, even this I have misunderstood
I have seen wax dolls and paper puppets
Seen those tainted in soul and pure in body
The child of my heart sometimes silent, sometimes leaping with joy
As if a five-year-old child has come to see a fair
I have tasted the poison of loneliness, endured ridicule in gatherings
In love, received taunts as gifts, abuses as blessings
He did not ask my state, though closer than the lifeline
Unknowingly, for whom I have been through many conditions
I have seen three decades, I have seen three funerals
Whatever period I have passed through, I have faced consequences
Seen celebrations of joy turn into doorways of grief
I wonder what gifts the thirty-eighth year will bring
Scattered dust, gathered dust, dust is my asset
Don't ask what I lost and gained in thirty-seven years
Critical Analysis of the Poem "Khaak"
The poem "Khaak" by Nawaz Zafar, written on his 37th birthday, explores loss, introspection, and life's ephemeral nature. The title, meaning "dust," symbolizes the transient nature of existence. The opening lines, "Khaak urai khaak sameti khaak apna sarmaaya hai, Mat poochho saintis baras mein kya khoya kya paaya hai," reflect on life's cyclical nature and the futility of worldly pursuits.
The poem delves into memory, identity, and self-awareness, with the poet seeing a loved one's presence in flowers and gardens, highlighting the paradox of individuality and unity. Zafar's existential quest is evident as he searches for self-understanding amidst the passage of time and personal relationships.
Contrasting childhood innocence with adult complexities, the poem uses imagery of a child at a fair to emphasize the weariness of adulthood. Experiences of mockery, betrayal, and unrequited love are encapsulated in the lines "Tanhai ka zeher bhi chaata majlis mein tazheek sahi, Ishq mein taana bhi nazraana gaali bhi tabreek sahi."
The poet reflects on the inevitability of death and three decades of pain, questioning the gifts of the 38th year. Ultimately, "Khaak" meditates on the human condition, linking the pursuit of meaning with life's transience. Zafar's metaphors and contemplative tone provide a profound commentary on loss and the search for identity.
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