قطرۂ آب

مرا معنی تازہ ئی مدعاستاگر گفتہ را باز گویم رواست

I quote what someone else has said, but wish to make a new point with its aid.

یکی قطرہ باران ز ابری چکیدخجل شد چو پہنای دریا بدید

‘A raindrop fell into the sea. And awed by its expanse, it thought:

کہ جائی کہ دریاست من کیستم؟گر او ہست حقا کہ من نیستم"

By God, I am a mere nonentity beside the sea. If it exists, then surely I do not.’

ولیکن ز دریا برآمد خروشز شرم تنک مایگی رو مپوش

There came out of the sea a sound, loud and profound, as of a voice, and it declaimed: ‘You do not have to be ashamed of being small and feel so sad.

تماشای شام و سحر دیدہ ئیچمن دیدہ ئی دشت و در دیدہ ئی

For all your smallness, you have had experiences which were great. You have watched dawn and evening alternate. You have seen orchard, plain and glade.

بہ برگ گیاہی بہ دوش سحابدرخشیدی از پرتو آفتاب

Suspended on a blade of grass or a cloud-flake, you have reflected the sun’s rays.

گہی ھمدم تشنہ کامان راغگہی محرم سینہ چاکان باغ

There have been days on which it fell to you to slake the thirst of desert shrubs. Again, there were days when you soothed the pain in the rent bosom of a rose.

گہی خفتہ در تاک و طاقت گدازگہی خفتہ در خاک بی سوز و ساز

At times you slumbered in the vine to wake up as a potent liquid – wine. At other times abed in dust, you made mere mud.

ز موج سبک سیر من زادہ ئیز من زادہ ئی در من افتادہ ئی

It was out of my waves that you arose. Born of me, you come back to me, come back to be a part of me.

بیاسای در خلوت سینہ امچو جوھر درخش اندر آئینہ ام

Now rest in my broad breast, and make my mirror gleam with one more beam of light.

گہر شو در آغوش قلزم بزیفروزان تر از ماہ و انجم بزی

Become a pearl and be lodged in the depths of me – My moon, my star, as bright as those of the sky are.’