In the Grenadine Islands:

Blackstar – Definition

Mos Def free styling with Dave Chapelle and on the street.

It is sung by none other than the great  Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and you can see the video here. If you know me, you know I am a huge fan of percussion and it all started when I first listened to him in Night Song years ago, my all time favorite albums.

English translations of Sufi poetry usually lack soul and this is obvious if you read any book on Rumi or any of the other poets, but this is the same song that has inspired Jeff Buckley as well if you are his fan .

The meaning edited from here:

ye jo halkaa halkaa suruur hai
ye terii nazar kaa qusuur hai
ke sharaab piina sikha diyaa

This mild intoxication
is because of your eyes,
that taught me drinking.

tere pyaar ne terii chaah neteri bahkii bahkii nigaah ne
mujhe ek sharaabii bana diyaa

Your love and your longing,
your intoxicating glances
made me a drunkard.

sharaab kaisii, Khumaar kaisaa
ye sab tumharii navaazisheN haiN
pilaayii hai kis nazar se tuune
ke mujhko apnii Khabar nahiiN hai

What wine, what intoxication
all this is [due to] your kindness.
You served me [wine] with your eyes such
that I have forgotten myself.

saaraa jahaaN mast, jahaaN kaa nizaam mast
din mast, raat mast, saher mast, shaam mast
mast shiisha, mast subuu, mast jaam mast
hai terii chashm-e-mast se har Khaas-o-aam mast

The whole world is ecstatic, the order of the world is ecstatic.
The day is ecstatic, so is dawn and so is evening.
The glass, cup and wine are all ecstatic.
Because of your intoxicating eyes, everyone and everything is ecstatic.

ye jo saaqii har tarah kii tere maiKhaane meN hai
vo bhii thoRii sii jo in aaNkhon ke paimaane meN hai
Of all the wines you have in your tavern
serve me a little from your eyes.

sab samajhtaa huuN terii ish (??) nazar ai saaqii
kaam kartii hai nazar, naam hai paimaane kaa
I understand your alluring glances
that cause intoxication, instead of wine.

teraa pyaar hai bas merii zindagii
Only your love is my life.

na namaaz aatii hai mujhko na vuzuu aataa hai
sajdaa kar letaa huuN jab saamne tuu aataa hai
Neither I know prayers nor ablutions,
I prostate whenever you come in front of me.

teraa pyaar hai bas merii zindagii
Only your love is my life.

teri bahkii bahkii nigaah ne
mujhe ek sharaabii bana diyaa
Your love and your longing,
your intoxicating glances
made me a drunkard.

teraa pyaar hai bas merii zindagii
Only your love is my life.

terii yaad hai merii bandagii
jo terii Khushii, vo merii Khushii
ye mere junuuN kaa hai mo’jizaa
jahaaN apne sar ko jhukaa diyaa
vahaaN maine Kaaba banaa diyaa
Your remembrance is my prayer
[and] your wish is my wish.
This is the miracle of my frenzy
that where ever I prostrated
a mosque was made there.

mere baad kisko sataaoge?
On whom would you inflict pain after me?

awwal to unke samne maine khanjar rakh diya, phir kaleja rakh diya
dil rakh diya, sar rakh diya, aur arj kiya ki, mere bad kisko satayoge

mere baad kisko sataaoge?
mujhe kis tarah se miTaaoge?
kahaaN jaa kar tiir chalaaoge?
merii dostii kii balaayeN lo

mujhe haath uThaa kar du’aaeN do
tumheN ek qaatil banaa diyaa
To whom would you inflict pain after me?
How would you take me out of your life?
Where would you cast those arrow-like glances?
Value my friendship
[that] helped you to gain murderous charm.

ye jo halkaa halkaa suruur hai
ye terii nazar kaa qusuur hai
ke sharaab piina sikha diyaa
This mild intoxication
is because of your eyes,
that taught me drinking.

Now I have to get a new bookshelf.

We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we pay our hand.

It has been a summer to remember so far in every way, otherwise.