PENMAN'S NICHE

YOUR HAND FOR A KISS! (Picked from the archive. Published originally in Kashmir Observer on 27.3.2007, this rendition of Kashmiri poem,titled 'Athas Keriya Meouth, addressed to/ dedicated to PoetLaureate of Kashmir, Prof Rahman Rahi- GYAAN PEETH Award Winner) Behold!

Tonight

The raiment of night

Thrown asunder

The bedecked silvery Moon In ecstasy

Comes to dance.

The Cypresses

Began washing

Their face

In all haste

With collected dew;

For daybreak call

Uphill runs

The moezzin+ Sun; Shhhhhh!

Fairies are lined up

For a chorus

At Aharbal*;

And there come

The Poppy & the Daffodil Swayed by desire

For an embrace;

Birds, in thousands,

Among flower-bushes,

Lyres, wait;

And a lilting love-song

Plays

On Laila’s ++ lips

Today.

Blush of the Chinar+++

On autumn’s face

O’ pigeon’s

Thumping heart

Open your eyesThe Cuckoo says

Reveal the forest bloom

You were hatching

Till now.

Twigs may embellish

With blooming buds

Groom up your

Visions & thoughts;

Tangled bushes

May light up

In this sandy

Wasteland.

On hearing this

The ambience I viewed ---Anew--And lost my calm

And found my heart

Say

Go and make your Felicitation

Now.

A dream tiptoed in.

With

Hair let loose

On the breast of my Veyth++++ Willow branches

Alluringly play

With strolling water

Of my desire

-That gurgles now

With new found recharge

Of Raembi # torrent.

I raised my voice

And said:

Aba ##

Behold

A “bare mushroom head”**

Set to wash

“A Poem You Might Call It”*** Asking to allow him

To kiss your hand

-And be cured of Stammer. -------------------

Notes :

(-herein above)

*Aharbal: Famous Water Fall, in Kashmir.

(-Quotes herein below are from the Kashmiri poems of the Laureate) ** "worne roess Baal e heudrah" akha...Refer page 42- Wozaan Pai chho Zolmaatte; Collection Siyah Rood e Jarren Manz .)

*** 'wochho---"Zan to akh Nazm", pannene oesh waani chhalaan'; page no's 217-225 of the Laureate's same collection.

(Other notes)

Moezzin = one who calls aloud,Muslims for congregational prayer.

++ Laila = Beloved of Mujnoon; who figures in the legendary romantic tale; literally lail = night.

+++ Chinar= Famous tree, known for its expanse, size, palm like leaves (-that change colour from yellowish green, green, fiery-red and brown in different seasons), shade and quality wood out of which high class furniture items & decoration pieces are made in Kashmir. ++++Veyth= Ancient name of river Jehlum of Kashmir.

# Raembi = Name of a fast swelling/ running stream of Kashmir.

## Aba= Father in vernacular.