Woh To Khushboo Hain: Parveen Shakir's Iconic Ghazal with Roman Urdu and English Translation

 Parveen Shakir: A Ghazal of Elegance and Emotion

Parveen Shakir, a poetess known for her delicate expressions of love, emotions, and the nuances of relationships, holds a unique place in Urdu poetry. Below is one of her soulful ghazals presented in Urdu Roman with English translations of difficult Urdu words for a deeper understanding.

---

Ghazal: Woh To Khushboo Hai

Woh to khushboo hai, hawaon mein bikhar jaye ga
"He is like a fragrance; he will disperse into the air."
(Khushboo – fragrance, Hawaon – winds)

Masla phool ka hai, phool kidhar jayega
"The issue is of the flower, where will the flower go?"
(Masla – issue, Phool – flower)

Hum to samjhe they ke ik zakhm hai, bhar jayega
"I thought it was just a wound that would heal."
(Zakhm – wound, Bhar – heal)

Kya khabar thi ke ragon mein utar jayega
"Who knew it would seep into the veins?"
(Ragon – veins, Utar – seep)

Woh hawaon, woh ghataon ka, woh saathi mera
"He was my companion of winds and clouds."
(Ghataon – clouds, Saathi – companion)

Ab ke mausam ka pata hai na kidhar jayega
"Now there’s no knowing where this season will go."
(Mausam – season, Pata – knowing)

---

Why Parveen Shakir’s Poetry Resonates

Parveen Shakir’s ghazals beautifully encapsulate human emotions, especially love and longing, in a way that feels intimate yet universal. In this ghazal, she uses metaphors like fragrance, flowers, and seasons to explore the fragility of relationships and the inevitability of change.

Her choice of simple yet evocative language makes her poetry timeless, appealing to both the heart and the intellect.