The Best of Mahjoor

Selections from Mahjoor's Kashmiri Poems

jalva havith, tamblavith,door traavith

    Beholding your loveliness maddened me with longing.
    How cruel you left me languishing with this desire !

    Did you enter my bower of love just to put a spell
    On my senses, taste my bloom and leave me in blight ?

    Faithless one! Your furtive look pierced my soul;
    And my virgin, loving heart fluttered like a wounded bird.

    Being simple, and trusting faith, I offered all my love.
    It's you who played me false, and left me desolate.

    For all my faith and dignity, you chose to slander me,
    Disgrace me and toss me out, with a taunt as your gift.

    O how you broke my heart, staying away displeased,
    Leaving me to rue my fate, all consumed with longing !

    Beloved, your letter - the parting gift - bristled with taunts.
    It was holding with your hands the mortal cup to my lips !

    You led me to my grave, with a fitting deathly pallor,
    Like a blighted jessamine bush, burnt with the fire of love.

    Majoor, lying  far away, in hiding as it were,
    Says, 'dear friend, how can you leave,
    Forgetting all your vows ?