When curbs become energising force behind poetry

When I was presented Tasneem Kausar’s poetry collection ‘Sargoshi,’ I wasn’t anticipating a great deal. As a fan of the masters and someone who has been involved with poetry writing for quite a long time now, I knew crafting excellent poetry is very difficult than the majority of readers envisage. And I have read reasonable quantity of high-pitched prose asserting to be poetry. Unnecessary to say, I was surprised by the feeling and style of her poetry especially ‘nazms.’ I couldn’t stand to put down the book. I genuinely wish her talent is known for what it is:

‘Hum log teray shehr mein khushboo ki tarah hain

Mehsoos tu hotay hain dekhahee nahin daitay’

Tasneem’s poetry records her journey from the traditional patriarchal environment to passionate outlet of poetry. Amidst distrust, neglect and lack of warmth, she expresses the love, scepticism, and the sad conditions in a way that will reverberate with anyone who believes in maintaining relationship against all odds:

‘Tasneem raayaygaan gayee moujoun ki barhami

Hum nein safeena apna dabonay naheen deeya’

Take a journey into the abyss of her poetry. You will be absorbed into the chasm of emotionally charged poems about overwrought feelings and dream love. Relationships seem to be the best and the worst at times. She presents an assorted piece of work that necessitates putting experiences, unpleasantness and the complexities of daily life into poetry:

‘Baarood ki lapate mein aya jo aik baar’

‘Es shehr pe nikhaar phir aya nahin kabhi’

Words articulated in poetry are words that speak from the heart. As you read through her poetry, you are able to see inside her heart. Hers is not an uncultivated poetry airing one’s dirty laundry, but isn't that what writing poetry is all about, baring your soul:

‘Kaisay kaisay gumaan mein guzri

Zindgi intehaan mein guzri

Tuj ko bhi hai khabar jahan walay

Hum pe kia es jahan mein guzri’

Compassion, intimacy and emotions are what you will find in her collection of poetry. As you read through, you will find a wide array of poetry that will touch your heart, mind, soul, and spirit. Once you begin to read, you will be able to feel the transparency of the words and the emotions of the heart on each page:

‘Bund thay jis kay saaray darwaazay

Umr aisay makaan mein guzri

Jahan mein talkh rawayoun kay baawajood

Nafrat ko apnay dil mein samonay nahin deeya’

Her ‘ghazals’ and ‘nazms’ describe that love is neither shallow nor showy in its purest form. It can overpower diatribe and that inner strength is a wonderful gift which can win over hearts:

‘Hum ne khud sanwaray hain pacho kham zamanay kay

Hum ne bazmay hasti kay rang khud nikharay hain’

Tasneem Kausar’s poetry presents woman’s role in the traditional society and seems to view things from the perspective of a woman who is trying to accept the duties and demands that her role entails. She adopts a rather submissive attitude towards what she describes:

‘Yeh aizaz kia kam hai meray leeyay

Keh es anjman mein rasaee tu hai

Taluq sabhi khatm dil kay huyay

Magar lazatay aashnaee tu hai’

It is their female role that restrains women and prevents them some times from thinking beyond the limitations their social role prescribes. However, it is this sense of restriction that serves as an energising force behind most of female writing since it works as an outlet for pent-up emotions and intellectual power.