Parveen Shakir was born on 24th November, 1952 in Karachi, Pakistan.
She was double M.A with English Literature and Linguistics from University of Karachi. She also held a Ph.D and another master degree in Bank Administration.
Parveen Shakir has served Karachi University and Trinity College, Connecticut, USA, as a teacher for 9 years and Pakistan Civil Service as well.
She was married with Dr. Naseer Ali. She died in age 42 in a car accident.
Parveen Shakir is one of famous Urdu poets. Her poetry has exclusive and quite different approach which touches human mind in a very beautiful way. Her poetry has magical effects on reader especially where the love is described in her poems.
The perspective of love and the associated social problems were her theme.
Main books written by Parveen Shakir
Khushboo (1976) – Fragrance
Sad-barg (1980) – Evergreen
Khud-kalaami (1990) – Talking to Self
Inkaar (1990) – Denial
Maah-e-Tamaam (1994) – Full Moon
Some of her selected poems in Urdu and English translations are as follows.
English & Urdu:
He is gone.
But a tender moment,
from when he was hereis stuck;
On the back of my hand (and)
in my lifelike a crescent.
Woh jaa chukaa hai
Magar judaai se qabl kaa
Ek narm lamhaThehar gayaa hai
Miri hatheli ki pusht per
Zindagi meinPehli kaa chand bun ker
while dancing,
the one upon whose shoulders
you rest your head
i too was once in his safeguard.
the difference is that
i was abandoned before dark,
and you shall remain
consumed in this false sense of security till dawn.
Raks karte hue
Jis ke shaano.n pe
tu ne abhi sir rakha hai
Kabhi me bhee is ki panaaho.n me thee
Faraq yeh hai ke me
Raat se qabl tanha hui
Aur tu subha tak
Is fareb-e-tahaffuz me khoyee rahe gee
Translated by Asad Khan
Urdu Poems:
AGAR MEIN PATHER KI LARKI HOTI…
TO APNE PEKAR KI SABZ RUT PER
BOHUT SI KAEE UGAYA KERTI
BOHUT SE TAAREEK KHWAB BUNTI
TO MEIN AZIYAT KI MALGAJEE…
AN-GINAT UDAASI KE RANG CHUNTI
AGAR MEIN PATHER KI LARKI HOTI
MEIN APNE PALOO MEIN SOG BANDHEY…
KISI KO IS KA PATA NA DETI
UJALEY KO THOKRON MEIN RAKHTI
KHAMOSHIYON KE BABOOL CHUNTI
SAMA-ATON KE TAMAM AFSOON…
PAASH KERTI, MEIN KUCH NA SUNTI
DEHAKTI KIRNON KA JHERNA HOTI
SAFAR KE HAR EIK MARHALEY PER…
MEIN REHZANON KI TARAH MUKERT
WEHAM UGATI, GUMAAN RAKHTI
TUMHARI SAREE WAJAHATON KO…
MEIN SAU TARAH PARA PARA KERTI
NA TUM KO YUN , AAEENA BANATI
AGAR MEIN PATHER KI LARKI HOTI.
kash main teray haseen hath ka kangan hota
tu baray piyar say chao say baray man kay sath
apni nazuk see kalaee main charhaty mujh ko
aor betaby say furqat kay khiza lamhon main
tu kisee soch main doby jo ghumaty mujh ko
main teray hath ki khushbu say mehak sa jata
jab kabhi mood main akar mujhay chuma karty
teray honton ki main hiddat say dehak sa jata
rat ko jab bhi tu nindh kay safar pay jaty
marmarin hath ka eik takiya banaya karty
main teray kan say lag kar kaii batain karta
tery zulfon ko teray gal ko chumaa karta
mujh ko betab sa rakhta tery chahat ka nasha
main tery roh kay gulshan main mehakta rehta
main teray jism kay angan main khanakta rehta
kuch nahin tu yehi benam sa bandhan hota
kash main teray hansee hath ka kangan hota
