''Khusbhu'' is a volume of poetry written by Pakistani poet and columnist

Parveen Shakir Parveen Shakir ( ur, ; 24 November 1952 – 26 December 1994) was a Pakistani poet, teacher and a civil servant of the government of Pakistan. She is best known for her poems, which brought a distinctive feminine voice to Urdu ...

, and published in 1976.

Poetry

The poetry in ''Khushbu'', like most of Shakir's subsequent work, can be divided into two categories: the

ghazal The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a ...

lural: ''ghazalyaat'' and free verse.

Ghazal

Style

Most of Shakir's ''ghazalyaat'' contain five to ten couplets, often - though not always - inter-related. Sometimes, two consecutive couplets may differ greatly in meaning and context [For example, in one of her works, the couplet 'That girl, like her home, perhaps/ Fell victim to the flood' is immediately followed by 'I see light when I think of you/ Perhaps remembrance has become the moon'''Neend tou khwaab ho gai shayad'' - Pg. 121, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition.]. The ''ghazalyaat'' in ''Khusbhu'' heavily rely on metaphors and similes, which are repeatedly and thought-provokingly used to bring force, thoughtfulness and lyricism in her work. An example is the couplet, ''"Wo tou khushbu hai, hawaon main bikhar jaye ga/ Masla phool ka hai, phool kidher jayega?"''''Wo tou khushbu hai'' - Pg. 190, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition. ranslation: He is fragrance, he will scatter in the air/ the trouble lies with the flower - where shall the flower go?where Shakir relates 'fragrance' to an unfaithful lover, 'air' to the unfaithful's secret loves, and 'flower' to the person cheated. Other metaphors Shakir commonly used in the book are ''mausum'' eatherfor times, ''ghulab'' osefor the female lover, ''titli'' utterflyfor a Romeo, ''hava'' indfor a wayward love, ''darya'' iverfor affection, ''baarish'' ainfor affection, and ''aandhi''

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for difficulties.

Themes

The ''ghazalyaat'' in ''Khusbu'' mainly deal with the feminine perspective on love and romance, and associated themes such as beauty, intimacy, separation, break-ups, distances, distrust and infidelity and disloyalty.

Shakir in her ghazal

The ''ghazalyaat'' in Shakir's books are one of the biggest, undisputed sources to her personality, and those in ''Khushbu'' establish her as an emotional, romantic, fiery and, above all, strong woman. In one couplet, Shakir's describes her fiery nature, and determination to acquire what she loves, thus:

"My heart is fiery, and to reach thee/
It shall render my body a canoe, and my blood a river."''Dhanak dhanak meri porun ko khwaab kr de ga'' - Pg. 210, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition.

She also expresses her stead-fastness in love ["Is there anyone like me, who/ will dedicate their life to thy remembrance?" and "Where have I not gone in search of peace of heart/ But this heart - Forever it has been in his company!"],''Wo aks-e-mauja-e-gul tha, chaman chaman main raha'' - Pg. 86, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition. her determination to learn from bitter experience, and to move on in life moved on, for thy infidelity/ Revealed to me this distrustful world''Gongay laboun per hurf-e-tammanna kia mujhe'' - Pg. 150, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition. and the fact that she does not wear her emotions on her sleeve t has shattered, but greets with smile/ I am in control of my attitude The ''ghazalyaat'' in ''Khushbu'' bring forth Shakir's thirst for trying new things must leave the road/ The path to my house is not paved''Khuli aankhon main sapna jhankta hai'' - Pg. 37, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition. her staunch preference of truth over lies ["Your truths were bitter, but I like them"''Ye ghaneemat hai kay in aankhon nay pehchana hamain'' - Pg. 93, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition. and "I will speak the truth at all costs, I was not aware/ You did not know of this evil of mine!]''Shadeed dukh tha agarcha teri judai ka'' - Pg. 135, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition. and her habit to experience every emotion intensely [I have been well-known to the nature of storms].''Azaab apnay baikheron kay murtasim kar lun'' - Pg. 122, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition.

Separation

Separation is a much-emphasized topic in ''Khushbu'', and is dealt with in many ways. It may be willing or unwilling separation - in the form of break-ups, long distance relationships, dying love or memories of an old romance - and is emphasized in works such as ''Neend tou khwaab hai aur hijr ki shub khwaab kahan?'' leep is a dream - and the night of separation is not a dream! ''Dost'' riend ''Shadeed dukh tha agarcha teri judaai ka'' hough the pain of your separation was great!and ''Chiraagh-e-raah bujha kya, kay rehnuma bhi gaya'' he guide left as soon as the lamp died out Shakir's work ''Let Him Come to Sprout a Flower in my Heart''''Kurya-e-jaan main koi phool khilanay aye'' - Pg. 45, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition. heavily focuses on these themes. A few couplets are cited here:

"Let him come to sprout a flower in my heart,
Let him come to wound my heart anew!

Let fragrance awaken in my empty doors,
Let him come to decorate my house.

Around here, live many people he knows,
Can not he come under pretense of meeting someone else?"

In ''The Night Dances Like my Body'', Shakir says:

"I will live my life, away from you,
Like an exile."''Raks main raat hai badan ki tarah'' - Pg. 38, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition.

Similarly, separation that is unwilling on both sides is implied by the following couplets in her ''

'' ''My face - his eyes!''

"Often, I wake up from my sleep, thinking,
How does he bear the night ans me

Despite all these distances, his arms,
eem toencircle me, forever."''Chehra mera tha, nigaahain uski'' - Pg. 46, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition.

Some other couplets of Shakir, focusing on the theme of separation:

"He walks with me, like the moon,
Who says I am alone in nights of separation?"''Wo rut bhi aai'' - Pg. 52, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition.

"Meeting - promise to meet again - separation,
So much happened so suddenly!"''Lamhaat-e-wasl kaisay hijaaboun main kat gaye'' - Pg. 95, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition.

"I am living after eparating fromyou,
And you - you, too, are living your life."''Sochun tou saath chal raha hai'' - Pg. 127, ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition.

Other

The subject of the wayward love is brought up time and again in ''ghazalyaat'' such as ''Wo tou khushbu hai'', (He is fragrance) ''Khushbu bhi us k tarz-e-pazeerai per gai'' (Fragrance's treatment is like his welcome), ''Gongay laboun pe hurf-e-tamanna kiya mujhe'' (I am a wish of nonspeaking lips). Shakir's poetry often speaks of pain, ''its'' pain and its joy.Pages 132, 306, 336 - ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition. It also often mentions loss and loneliness,Pages 61, 243, 222 - ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition. grief, shattered dreams, life after a break-upPages 83, 95, 127, 136, 196, 228, 232, 263, 292 - ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition. and the healing power of love.Pages 78, 208, 210, 302 - ''Khushbu'' by Parveen Shakir, JBD Press Edition.

References

{{reflist 1976 poetry books Pakistani poetry collections