zulf-e-jaana ki daastaan

No doubt, I've been always fascinated by the beauty of women but more by the way it's been eulogized in urdu poetry. Among all the exquisite parts of a woman's body, her hair is something that catches attention of the writers and readers alike. At the mention of ज़ुल्फ़, poetry lover loses himself in imagining fragrant, thick, wet, long and intoxicating hair of an unknown beauty. Hair doesn't need a face to be imagined. Tress is such a unique part of a woman's body that doesn't require adornment. It is beautiful the way it is, whether it is left loose or tied in a particular fashion.

I for one, have been admiring the beauty of curls and the beauty of praising them in urdu poetry. The following are few couplets I came across which I thought I should list for other poetry lovers to relish.

The combination of two legends - Javed Akhtar and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan created some enthralling music and lyrics that one would hardly forget. In one of landmark ghazals of Akhtar sahab - AFREEN,  see how beautifully he has mentioned the variance of tresses. 

ज़ुल्फ़ ए जाना की भी लम्बी है दास्ताँ 

ज़ुल्फ़ की मेरे दिल पर हैं परछायियाँ 

ज़ुल्फ़ जैसे के उमड़ी हुई हो घटा 

ज़ुल्फ़ जैसे के हो कोई काली बला 

ज़ुल्फ़ उलझे तो दुनिया परेशान हो 

ज़ुल्फ़ सुलझे तो यह ज़ीस्त आसान हो 

ज़ुल्फ़ बिखरे सियाह रात छाने लगे 

ज़ुल्फ़ लहराए तो रात जाने लगे 

ज़ुल्फ़ ज़ंजीर है फिर भी कितनी हसीन 

रेशमी रेशमी, अंबरी अंबरी 

आफरीन आफरीन 

हुस्न ए जाना की तारीफ मुमकिन नहीं

Where as he works out permutations of venerating hair of his beloved, he says it's so difficult to put the beauty in words in compliments.  He calls the swirls as shadow, a cloud, a scourge. If the hair is open it may bring distraught to the world and when raveled, it could ease up the living. It can spread the dark night when open and make the night going when flutters. It's a lovely shackle, silky and fragrant. It is however, not possible to praise the beloved. 

One poet has written the following in taking a friendly jibe at women's tresses. 

जो फंसा फिर न कभी उसने रिहाई मांगी 

तेरी ज़ुल्फोने अजब जाल बिछा रखा है 

चूम लेती हैं लटक कर, कभी चेहरा कभी लब 

तुमने ज़ुल्फोंको बहुत सर पे चढ़ा रखा है

It goes like - the one who has been trapped in a ploy will never seek release as your tresses have spread such a net.

Hanging down, they kiss your face and lips, dare you have exempted your tresses a bit too much !

In another expression, one jealously exclaims,

अपने बालोंको तो लिल्लाह सावरा कीजिये 

हाय कंबख्त ये पीछे ही पड़े रहते हैं

In an attempt to grab attention of the beloved, already frustrated lover suggests her to mend her hair for heaven's sake. Dam they persistently annoy (me more than you! that is) 

Akbar Allahabadi, known for his wit and humor, mentions about hair as below:

उधर जुल्फों में कंघी हो रही है ख़म निकलता है 

इधर रुक रुक के खींच खींच के हमारा दम निकलता है 

इलाही खैर हो उलझन पे उलझन बढ़ती जाती है

न उनका ख़म निकलता है न हमारा दम निकलता है

There, she's combing, unraveling intertwined tresses, here i heave an impatient breath. God forbid the complication is increasing but neither the twine is raveled nor the sigh is relieved. 

Ghalib also has used Zulf in many of his couplets. In one, he describes the luck of a person whom the beauty has bestowed upon herself as - 

नींद उसकी है, दिमाग उसका है, रातें उसकी है 

तेरी जुल्फें जिस के बाज़ू पर परीशां होगईं 

As if, the person either sleeps, thinks and has the nights or he doesn't. Who would? on whose shoulders are resting your curls? 

There are many more couplets on the beauty of hair in the form of becoming fun of it or praising it. The above are my favorites.