Create a place for yourself in the land of Passion,
Create a new age, a new day, a new eve.
If God grants you a heart full of understanding of Nature,
Create dialogue with the silence of flowers in bloom.
Do not greed for the West’s gleaming crystals,
Create the wine and cup from your own land.
I’m a branch of grape, the fruit is my poetry,
Create your life-blood, your red wine, from this fruit.
My way is not of worldly wealth, but that of a selfless dervish,
Sell not your Self - win your Name in hardship, in poverty.
Iqbal, the poet of the East, was born on November 9th, 1877, and is known the world over for his inspiring poetry that celebrates Independence, Rationality, and Thoughtful existence as the essence of Life. He was knighted for his collection of poetry called the Asrar-e-Khudi. This piece is translated from a poem he wrote to his son, describing the path he should follow. This message is sadly lost on the new generation.
Read more about Iqbal, the poet and philospher: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Iqbal
Original Urdu Ghazal (Javed ke Naam, by Iqbal)
دیار عشق میں اپنا مقام پیدا کر
نیا زمانہ ، نیی صبح و شام پیدا کر
خدا اگر دل فطرت شناس دے تجھ کو
سکوت لالہ و گل سے کلام پیدا کر
اٹھا نہ شیشہ گران فرنگ کا احسان
سفال ہند سے مینا و جام پیدا کر
میں شاخ تاک ہوں، میرا ثمرہے میری غزل
میرے ثمر سے مے لالہ فام پیدا کر
میرا طریق امیری نہیں فقیری ہے
خودی نہ بیچ، غریبی میں نام پیدا کر
