A recent discussion with a friend concerning new technology and the advances made in ceramics led me to read more on the subject. As the internet takes sleepless individuals stumbling across links, I read about nanotech and how nature, particularly the lotus, is being used to understand how things can be made water repellent. Learning more about this quite unique (and symbolically important flower) took me to an image which struck me deeply. In my mind’s eye, I saw it as flames shooting out of the water.
It is interesting to me that fire and water can coexist so beautifully in nature as they do. An example which comes to mind is the magnificence of undersea volcanoes. If you would permit me a slight digression from the exact science, it seems that in that particular place, liquid fire battles liquid water. As the thoughts ran in my mind along with the image of the red lotus, a poor ghazal formed which I present below:
کنولِ احمر کا رنگ، مثلِ نار ہے
آبی سکوں کے اوپر، یہ شرار ہے
The red lotus appears as a flame
Upon still waters
It dances
With light
تھک نہ توں ابھی سفرِ عشق سے
وہ دیکھ بعدِ دشت، سبزازار ہے
So do not tire of this journey
Look, there it is
Just beyond the desert
An oasis
عقیدت ہے یہی، عبادت ہے یہی
جاری اس چشم سے، اک آبشار ہے
Such as reverence
Such is worship
Her sight
Draws tears from my eyes
سب انتظام ہے، بڑا اہتمام ہے
خمر و مۓ یہاں، ترا انتظار ہے
All arrangements made
All said and done
There is wine and strong drink
I just await you
قصّہِ دیرینہ پے آنکھ سے نگینہ؟
تیرا گناہ نہیں، کیوں شرمسار ہے؟
That old tale
Draws jewels from your eyes
It was not your fault
Why do you cry?
گنواؤں کیا آپ کو اپنی غلطیاں؟
تعداد اک نہیں، کئی ہزار ہے
Should I recount
The mistakes I made
Not just one or two
But by the thousands
نہ گل نہ بوِ گل نہ روِ گل ملی
یہ بہار ہے تو عجب بہار ہے
No flower, nor its scent
Nor its shape
If this is spring
It is a strange one
پسند ہے مجھے یہ بے چاند رات
ماہِ نقاب پوش، میرا رازدار ہے
But I do like this
Moonless night
The veiled moon
Hides my darkest desires
کیا ملا تجھکو یوں رلا کے مجھ کو
میں بے قرار ہوں، توں بیقرار ہے
And what did you gain?
By bringing me to tears
Now you are hurt
Just as I am
کون جانے گا یہ؟ کیا تماشا ہے یہ؟
سرِ جوِ فرہاد، اک کوہسار ہے
Who can understand
The logic behind this
The source of this life giving water
Is but a dead rocky mountain
لو آپ سے بھی، دھوکہ دہی ہوئی
اب بھی کہتا ہوں، تیرا اعتبار ہے
I stand amazed
That you too defrauded me
But yet I say
I trust you completely
استاد تو بس انکا تعبیدار ہے
شریف نے امیر، فقط خاکسار ہے
And he is but
Her obedient servant
Neither well known nor rich
Just a humble man