On Tanveer Abbasi's 70th B'day: We dance in circles

[Rinku Dutta <rinmad@YAHOO.COM>]

From: Rinku Dutta, New Delhi

The date was Dec 3. -- Dr. Tanveer Abbasi's (Sindhi poet) 70th birth
anniversay.

Had he still been with us.

I wasn't aware that it was Tanveer's B'day. But we were discussing his
poetry at Helena's restaurant, our home away from home, in
Kathmandu. Sarmad and I.

I had come to visit Sarmad. He was to complete his commitment at
Kathmandu University and join a new job in Lahore. I was to return to
Delhi to my university job there. I felt the need to forify myself
with poetry before the impending parting. Baba's (Tanveer) poem, as so
often in the past, came to my rescue.  And Sarmad [Dr. Sarmad Abbasi]
recited and translated the particular poem I wished to recall: nachu
mei.n daera golu golu (we dance in circles).....

(in Sindhi followed by English)

Nachu mein daera golu golu
Suru mein aa ko khumaaru

Rock roll rock roll
Rock rock roll roll

B.naha chelu mei.n na wichu
Hiku kadamu aggite kharnu
Hiku kadamu poite
Hik kadam par bharo
Ma.n va.nya tokhe.n tu.n
Mukhe.n va.n.

Saz s.na suru milae
A.nae samhale peru kharnu
Etro na wejo achu
A.nae na e.rdo thii pare
To.rde tuhn.jii dili chawey
Taru na m.nu lae ggare

Thorro thorro fasilo aa zarooru
Thorro wejo thorro dooru
Muhn.ji samu je whojee.n
Poye bhi mukhe golu gOlu

Nachu mei.n daera golu golu
Suru mei.n aa ko khumaaru
Rock roll rock roll
Rock rock roll roll

II

Tu.n muun laye machu jo
Siya mei.n bbare payo
Paru je wejo tho achaa.n
Tho sa.rdi waniye wujoodu
A.nae agar pare thewo
Chhaye.n je ruhte jumoodu

Thorro thorro faasilo
Thorro thorro kurbu aa
Jetro bhi thii sagheii
Otro kareebu aa
To ta.n awalu gholu

Nachu mein daera golu golu
Suru mei.n aa ko khumaaru
Rock roll rock roll
Rock rock roll roll
        ---Tanveer Abbasi

We dance in circles
The music is intoxicating
Rock roll rock roll
Rock rock roll roll

Don't rest your arm on my waist
Take one step forward
One step backward
One step to the side

I like you
You like me
Keeping in tune with the melody
Measure your steps with caution
Don't come too close
And don't move too far

Even though your heart may want it
Don't let it melt for me
Keep the necessary distance
Neither too close, nor too apart
Even though we may be face to face
Keep searching for me

We dance in circles
The music in intoxicating
Rock roll rock roll
Rock rock roll roll


II

For me you are a fire
Burning in winter
But when I come close to you
My whole existence is threatened
And when I move away
Frost spreads upon my soul

There must be some separation
There must be some yearning
Come as close as possible
I could cease upon this moment's intensity.

----
Love to you all

Rinku
Nov 6, 2004
Delhi

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness.  Just
because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost.
~H. Jackson Browne