Sang-e-Saboor: A deeply divine Persian Song

 

Sharing a beautiful Persian song (by Mohsen Chavoshi), that I listened to recently after almost a gap of 15 years..I was able to recognize the song by its specific music that is primarily played on the santoor...and the song felt so nostalgic and also apt at this time...The lyrics of the song are very beautiful and talk of loneliness from the perspective of a male. 

An interesting thing about this song is that sang-e-saboor actually translates to stone of patience. (the English translation shows it as a shoulder to cry on which is not the exact translation). However, the stone of patience was a book (and movie by the same name), and there is a legend that there used to be a stone that could listen to a person's troubles and sorrows (similar to a shoulder to cry on but metaphorically) and would keep on absorbing them all like a sponge until one fine day (unbeknownst to all) it would burst, almost signaling that it could take no more..For some reason this also resonated with the current turmoil which the country of Iran is in, almost like the sang-e-saboor bursting....

The original song can be heard here:

Mohsen Chavoshi - Sange Saboor [Lyric Video] (محسن چاوشی-سنگ صبور) 

The persian lyrics (english transliteration) and the English translation are below. 

The lyrics above are available here Mohsen Chavoshi - سنگ صبور (Sange Saboor) (English translation #2)

https://lyricstranslate.com/en/sange-saboor-sang-e-saboor.html

           Anyhow, the beauty of this song is the specific rhythms of santoor in it which make it very soulful. Interestingly, I happened to listen to it in piano version and was so mesmerized by the piano version (a cover by another artist) as it was able to recapitulate some of the complex santoor sounds used in the original song.

Sange saboor (Santouri) - Mohsen Chavoshi - piano Mohsen Karbassi - سنگ صبور- سنتوری - محسن چاوشی

This piano version is far ahead of its time and stands out amidst several piano compositions I have heard..In my view, this song is way too close to my heart, and I will always know its melody no matter what time..its almost an immortal song....

Vo jo uski umr bhar ka haasil tha: Remember to be grateful

 

I came across an interesting piece of information that pertains to the tiny creature- the Honeybee. (see the photo below). It turns out that the little teaspoon of honey which a person consumes is in fact a sum total of so much hard work and encompasses the lifetime struggles and journeys of several honeybees...

How often have we taken a moment to reflect that the honey we consume so quickly (which is also called as the nectar of life, holding a myriad of scientific benefits for the human body) was not given so easily to us, but was someone's else's life's treasure (almost like mata-e-jaan) or almost umr bhar ka haasil...

Have we ever paused, and expressed gratitude at this spoonful of bounty which was coming from a majestic creature designed perfectly by God?

For some reason, I was reminded of the following poetry which is a part of a bigger poem. These particular lines somehow resonated deeply with me as I heard it from some speech of some pious scholar...However, for some reason the connection between the fact of honey and a bee's journey seemed to strike a chord in my heart as if the bee is not visible to speak for itself but is trying to tell the human to be grateful and mindful....

...Truly, we as humans are so caught up that we have forgotten to give thanks or express gratitude...

Here is the poetry:

"वो  जो  गीत  तुम  ने  सुना  नहीं 

 मेरी  उम्र  भर  का  रियाज़ था

 मेरे दर्द  की  थी दास्ताँ

 जिसे  तुम  हंसी  में  उड़ा  गए "

-Amjad Islam Amjad

I, for one do consume a tiny teaspoon of honey in morning and felt in awe and wonder after knowing I was consuming someone's else's such immense lifelong journey, without paying attention.

I now try to remember the bee and its struggles and thus remember the One who created it for his makhlooq (creation).

Let us be grateful for the tiny bounties of life...

Let us be grateful for all creatures, big and small....

Let us remember the Al-Shakur.....

Poem published: Suffolk Country Poetry Review 2016

 

Sharing one of my poems that was accepted for publication in the Suffolk County Poetry Review of Long Island, in the year 2016. 

A background on what Yajnas is in Vedas:

Yajna - Vedic Sacrifices in Hinduism

Interestingly, even today, it is being conducted in many households (on special occasions to invoke blessings of God or to call God), usually with a priest and the people sit around the fire and offer the holy items (although the smoke emanating from such yajnas is not for the faint of the eyes, as it can create severe eye irritation).

Poem published in Poets' Almanac 2016

 

Sharing a short poem that was selected for the Poets Almanac in the year 2016. The requirements were to submit a poem of only 5-6 lines; hence this was the poem I came up with. It's inspired by the tiny porcupine.

And here is the little porcupine...

Pins and Needles: The Indian Crested Porcupine

Soulful songs of praise- collection of Naats/Nasheeds

 Sharing list of some of very beautiful Islamic Naat/ nasheeds by various artists. I had removed this post earlier, as I do not want to give certain impressions based on what religions I follow (which is Hinduism) or plan to change if at all (unlikely). However, as for me, music and praise of God (no matter what religion or country or state) is what ultimately is the goal, I decided to repost the collection of songs which I have listened to for so many years and have in fact, given me peace.

All of these songs are quite peaceful and soft to the heart... 

 (P.S. There are lots more which are very close to my heart, but due to some personal reasons/ privacy, I am sharing only few of them here)

Nasheeds:

Last Breath - Ahmed Bukhatir - أحمد بوخاطر - النفس الأخير - Arabic Music Video

Omar Esa - Aye Khuda (Oh Lord) - Vocals Only Nasheed

Fiyya Hubbun, Fiyya Wajdun | In Love In Ecstasy #nasheed | English Translation

The Beauty of Existence - Heart Touching Nasheed

Siedd - Allah Humma (Official Nasheed Video) | Vocals Only

 ALLAH KA GHAR | Nabeel Shaukat Ali feat. Tahseen Sakina | Ramzan Kalaam 2025

Sami Yusuf - Al Faqir | الفقير (Official Lyric Video) #worldmusic #worldmusictraditions

Sami Yusuf - The 99 Names : English & French Lyrics

Sami Yusuf – Glorification (Official Music Video) #worldmusic

(in this song, at 2:42 the Arabic words are sublime)

Wohi Khuda Hai - Abdullah Qureshi 

Naats:

Nabeel Khan - Maula Ya Salli Wa Sallim ( Official Video ) Ramadan 2023 | Naat

(13) Hasbi Rabbi - Nabeel Khan | Official Video | Ramadan Special Naat 2024 - YouTube

(the rabab music at the beginning is very sweet)

Muhammad Nabina - Nabeel Khan | Official Video | Ramadan Special Naat 2024

Maher Zain - Rahmatun Lil’Alameen (Official Music Video) ماهر زين - رحمةٌ للعالمين

Ahmad Hussain | Ya Muhammad Nur e Mujasam |Tribute to Amjad Sabri

Ahmad Hussain | Ya Taiba | Official Arabic/Urdu Nasheed Video

YA NABI SALAM ALAYKA | Danish F Dar | Dawar Farooq | BEST NAAT | Ramzan Special Naat | 4k NAAT |2024

LA ILAHA ILLALLAH | Ramzan Special Zikr | Danish F Dar | Dawar Farooq | BEST NAAT | Best hamd | 2024

 

I hope these songs above also give peace to the receptive heart(s).

Poem published - Walt Whitman Bicentennial Anthology- 2019

Sharing one of my poems that was selected for publication in the "Poets to Come" Walt Whitman Bicentennial Anthology in the year 2019, at Long Island. This particular poem was inspired by (and also dedicated) to a small unassuming fish that is in reality a true artist, almost sculpting its art at the very bottom of the ocean floor.  The creature is a puffer fish and there are many insightful links and videos on how it achieves its marvelous creation, but that is ephemeral, only to be washed off by ocean currents.

I was in awe and deep admiration of this tiny creature when I read about it and that inspired me to pen down. The info on what it actually does are available here:

A Pufferfish's Masterpiece | Big Pacific: Mysterious | PBS LearningMedia

Meet the Fish That Builds Works of Love on the Seafloor

In my poem, I have mentioned of Arjuna (the great warrior of Hindu epic Mahabharata), particularly as he was known for the complex Chakravyuh formation (a tactic used in battles), which for some reason to me resembled the structure the puffer fish made at least, in part. Plus, I mentioned of the fish-eye as there is a famous incident that Arjuna's prowess and focus of archery was so unparalleled that he could shoot at the eye of the moving fish while only looking at its reflection in water, which is a feat impossible to do by ordinary souls....(The Eye of the Fish: Customer Obsession in the Kurukshetra of Entrepreneurship | by Sashank Dara | Medium)

A published poem: Bards Annual Poetry 2019

 

I am sharing a poem (titled "The Trap of Eyelashes") that was published in the Bard's Annual Poetry Book Collection in the year 2019. This particular poem is a satire that is typically different from the themes I typically write on.  A very interesting aspect is that I had never actually seen the specific plant (Venus flytrap) in real life, as mostly I remember reading about it in my school days in biology or drawing the plant diagrams. However, one fine day before writing the poem, I did stumble upon that plant as it was for sale in one of the food sections of a department store in Stony Brook. I have to admit it was one of the most blissful moments of my life, as at first, I could not believe it was a real plant, but it indeed was (and was not that big as I used to think; it was small but must have the ability to capture its preys or insects (although I never put that to test :)).

Anyhow, here is the poem. The sarcasm in the poem is at the fakeness of the modern society (and also perhaps the cosmetic companies that do manufacture products (which then land up with the consumer) that have the ability to extend the eyelashes using specific compounds).

Bards Annual 2019 by Bards Initiative | Goodreads

Here is the photo of the plant:

P.S.I understand that eyes and the eyelashes are a gem in poetries and shayaris and are extolled, however this is the only poem where I made an exception but that was subject to the context....