Azab khatam huwa

Besides physiological menopause and andropause, every human, somewhere in his mid-40s to mid-50s realizes that youthful time is over and old hood begins. Sound scary? Actually not! In contrast, it is very peaceful. You may remember, I once wrote a note from a 60-year-old graceful lady (here). I am far from 60 but somewhere at age 48, I realized that the threshold arrived. No one puts it better than Munir Niazi. What a profound poet he is!!

Kitab-e-umar* ka ik aur baab khatam huwa 
Shabab khatam huwa, ik azab khatam huwa 

Hui neejat safar main faraib-e-sehra say 
Sarab khatam huwa, izterab khatam huwa 

Baras kay khul gaya badal hawaye shab ki tarah 
Falak pe barq ka woh paich-o-taab khatam huwa 

 Jawab-deh na raha main kisi kay aage munir 
Woh ik sawal or us ka jawab khatam huwa


One more chapter ends from book of life
Over is youth,  and so over its torment

Found salvation from deception of desert
Over is Miraje, and so over is its angst

Cloud opened and rained like breeze at night
Over is the fury of lightning, dark n light

No more answerable to anyone I am Munir
Over is that one query, and so its retort



*Though in his printed kalam, it is written kitabe-umar, I heard him reading it as kitabe-zeest on TV.