Saturday 27 February 2010

The First Rain

Pehli Barish (The First Rain) is an incredible poetic work of one of Urdu’s most popular and eminent poet Nasir Kazmi (1925-1972). Pehli Barish was published posthumously in 1975, although it was completed in 1972 before his death, but Nasir Kazmi was reluctant to its publication then, as he was of the view that his readers were not yet ready for this experiment which was new in form and content.

In Pehli Barish we see Nasir Kazmi in a new and completely different mode, much more mysterious and symbolic. The poems of Pahli Barish which consists of 24 Gazals (poems) and 219 Ashaar(couplets) are in form of a complete story line. Each Couplet and Poem though complete in itself is also part of a bigger picture that leads to a complete story. Pehli Barish is a journey, a search of a friend, a lover, a home, a paradise that is found, lost and regained. More this is a search of Self, which the poet finally discovers after losing everything but the remembrance of God brings peace, solace and ultimate realization that this journey was an experience and it has to end one day, but it ended finally after the true companion was found.

This is metaphorically very rich Book, although very simple as you read along but this simplicity leads you nowhere if the metaphors are not understood. These metaphors are from mythology, religion, literature, and human evolution and are beautifully and artistically vulcanized by the poet and thus he presents one of the most beautiful collages of poetic excellence that breath and pulsates like an organ.

The first rains that this grand poem brought is still drizzling somewhere inside my unconsciousness and soaking the untouched, unattended and unreached myths and realities of my being,The First Rain, to me means a Search. A Search after receiving the bliss from the first drop of rain that created Life and recognition of Life.

10 comments:

  1. Thanks for providing us information about such a magical piece of poetry!

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  2. Thanks ReeBz for visiting the blog, its always a high experience to be in touch with the enlightened but firmly grounded youth like you.

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  3. "The First Rain, to me means a Search. A Search after receiving the bliss from the first drop of rain that created Life and recognition of Life. "

    hmmm...thank you so much Dar Sahib for sharing such nice piece of work by Nasir Kazmi.

    How wonderful our language (URDU) is and how wonderful people were who make it more precious and marvelous....only it is still in search of readers...hmm...

    I little sometimes read poetry...I dont know I always found it the most difficult art and most difficult to understand....hmm...pardon my lack of understanding....

    But I have read Nasir Kazmi few poems and I think he is a great poet...

    thank you for sharing.

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  4. Thank you Sir,
    It is a big honor for me which i really don't deserve, that a person like you who is so much experienced and qualified value my presence here.

    Infact it is an honor for me to stay in touch with you and your writings to gain some experience and lessons which will definitely help me in my future.

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  5. Looking for an English translation, surprisingly I found this following in Wikipedia. I was quite amazed since I have just been going between Manhattan and Brooklyn by subway when in New York City area! And didn't know to look for this inscription - but next time I will and photograph the place should I be able to return, Insha Alla:

    "Few people know that he did some great translations of English poets, especially his translation of Walt Whitman's 'Crossing Brooklyn Ferry' by the title of 'Brooklyn Ghaat Ke Paar' is a real masterpiece and worth reading."

    " 'Crossing Brooklyn Ferry' is a poem by Walt Whitman, and is part of his collection Leaves of Grass. It describes the ferry trip across the East River from Manhattan to Brooklyn.
    The poem specifically addresses future readers who will look back on it, and the ferry ride, years hence. In the first stance, Whitman writes:
    And you that shall cross from shore to shore years hence are more to me, and more in my meditations, than you might suppose.

    'A portion of the poem is used as an inscription at the Fulton Ferry Landing in Brooklyn Heights, where the ferry landed."

    I would love to see one of your favorites in Urdu so that I can get a Pakistani friend here to help me pronounce the Urdu and learn the poem...

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  6. wow Dear Connie...you do search alot...and also found some interesting things to follow for us too...

    I will too look for this translation and see how he (Nasir Kazmi) has presented Brookyln.

    Thank you so much...your interest in our language and its literature give me inspiration and will to avail more information on URDU.

    Thank you so much for becoming an inspiration for me...hmm...

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  7. Connie
    Yes Nasir Kazmi did a translation from Walt Whitman's LEAVES OF GRASS. It was of the poem
    'Crossing Brooklyn Ferry'. And what a wonderful poet Whitman was. When Will Durant wrote an article about'The Ten Greatest Poets' Walt Whitman was ranked in that list alongwith, Homer,David,Euripides,Lecretius,Li-Po,Dante,Shakespeare,Keats and Shelley. What a company to be in.

    A French critic had said"The originality of LEAVES OF GRASS is perhaps the most absolute which have ever been manifest in Literature" What a tribute!

    See one of my favourites from Whitman:

    The old face of the mother of many children!
    Whist! I am fully content..
    Behold a woman1
    She looks out from her Quaker cap-herface is clear and more beautiful than the sky.
    she sits in an armchair, under the shaded porch of the farmhouse.

    The sun just shines on her old white head.
    Her ample gown is of cream-hued linen;
    Her grandson raised the flax, and her granddaughter spun it ith the distaff and the wheel.

    The melodious character of the earth,
    The finish beyond which philosophy cannot go, and does not wish to go,
    The justified mother of men-

    I will post you one of my favourite Nasir Kazmi Poem for you to recite!

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  8. How helpful for me to learn ever more from you about writers I "missed" or (tuned out in daydreaming?:) at an earlier age...THANX for this list...Walt Whitman was ranked in that list alongwith, Homer,David,Euripides,Lecretius,Li-Po,Dante,Shakespeare,Keats and Shelley. What a company to be in. And for one of your favorite's Nasir Kazmi to translate from.

    Nice to know this also, perhaps YOU will be the one to translate this into Urdu? from you" A French critic had said"The originality of LEAVES OF GRASS is perhaps the most absolute which have ever been manifest in Literature" What a tribute!

    And I do love this favourites of your's from Whitman (which doesn't surprise me since you are so deeply about character which may not be obvious to many):

    The old face of the mother of many children!

    "her face is clear and more beautiful than the sky..." and the rest in your comment above..

    I look forward to the posting of a favourite Nasir Kazmi Poem for me to recite! No hurry but I shall look forward to this next week perhaps?

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  9. Thank you very much ReeBz, Thinking and Connie for your words of appreciation,all these look and sound so beautiful and bonding.

    Connie,very soon you will receive the poem!

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  10. when i first learnt how to write
    first of all i wrote your name

    o sender of the first rain
    i thirsted for sight of you

    brilliant words (in translation)
    brilliant poet.

    Winston

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