Khamoshi (Silence)

Here’s a short Urdu poem that I wrote recently. It’s a metaphorical exploration of the notion of silence in different contexts.

Khamoshi bhi ek aawaaz hai
Bezubaan dil ka soona saaz hai Khamoshi

Hayaat ke is lambe safar mein
Afsurda lamhon ki daastaan hai Khamoshi

Dilon ke guzre karavon ke piiche
Aankhon mein chubhta Gubaar hai Khamoshi

Gaharaaiyyon ka pataa detii hui
Gehre zaKhmon ka nishaan hai Khamoshi

Har rang mein jale shama ke
Seher pe dhuaan hone ka rang hai Khamoshi

Chaand Khamosh, sitaare Khamosh,
Sehra Khamosh aur Khamosh hum
Sadiyon ki gardish ka silaa hai Khamoshi

I think Chopin’s E minor Prelude will be a perfect musical accompaniment to these thoughts on silence. What I love about this piece is the definitive air of inevitability that it acquires towards the end which makes it hard not to sense that something’s dying (as indeed the music itself dies down in the last few chords). Chopin himself used to often perform this piece and, fittingly enough, it was played at his funeral.

Here’s my favorite version of it by Sviatoslav Richter:

I’m currently learning this piece myself and will, hopefully, make a recording once I feel comfortable.

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