EngliSHER (pronounced 'Ingli-Share') is the Sher form of poetry composed in English (it would be DeutsCHER if it were in German).
I believe most of the best human art forms, Sher included, express deep human emotions, feelings and mood that can be recognised, understood and felt by people regardless of their language or culture.
While I am sure some will be scandalized at the thought, here are some 'Sher's (poems) in English. Keep in mind, even 'Rap' had its own shaky beginnings! I hope the next generation, from Indian or Pakistani background that have exposure to the Western culture, can take this over, perfect this and put it out into the wider world. It will certainly improve their language skills and cultural sophistication. There is no place for crudity, offensive, vulgar language or cheap innuendo in Sher. Neither should there be in EngliSHER. No gratuitous swearing, f** words or anything like that should be considered acceptable as part of a true Sher.
The following are solely my attempts and I accept all the blame and outrage that anyone cares to express. I imagined how it would be to have the Sher (Lion) form of poetry in the modern English language and wondered if it could convey a small measure of the feelings and mood of the original form in Urdu and Hindi. In some cases, it might sound positively odd to begin with, but the key is to get into the mood and feeling of the poet or the person rendering it. The punch line should bring out the final mood and message. The atmosphere certainly matters. But most of the Shers do evoke such a mood and mental image of the setting, very quickly, within the first verse or two. And then comes the punch line that delivers the arrow to the soul. It is a lot like the line "He ain't heavy, He's my brother" composed by Bobby Scott and Bobby Russell. Hearing a few Shers to begin with can certainly get one into the mood.
Note: Sher does not have to rhyme entirely, especially in the punch line. Verses that rhyme in one language might likely never rhyme in another, if they are to convey the exact same thought, so some of the 'punch' is lost inevitably. The chances of rhyming are much better if the Sher is composed in the language it is to be delivered. The following are composed originally in English, so they will likely not have the same effect if translated into another language.
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SHER 1:
Poet:
She has slayed a thousand hearts until now,
a thousand hearts until...
Until she saw the love in his eyes,
and her own breath stood still,
Her heart beat so fast and loud,
she shook with every beat,
She felt the kind of love he felt
and could not stand up on her feet.
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SHER 2:
Son:
I took and took from you, Mother!
I took and took from you, Father!
I took life
I took nourishment
I took your blood, sweat and tears
I took your years
Now, what can I give you in return?
Parents:
Silly child, you do not realise!
You have given us so much in taking from us.
We hope you raise a child someday and get the same!
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SHER 3:
Woman:
Oh Fate! I wish you had made me the breeze that runs its fingers through his hair and tosses his curls around. He smiles in pleasure as he feels it.
Oh Fate! I wish you had made me the cool water he splashes on his face and rubs it in, as he washes himself coming from work. He sighs in relief at the freshness it awakens in him.
Oh Fate! I wish I was even the pitcher that he puts his lips to and drinks of deeply. He exclaims in satisfaction at the quenching of his thirst.
Oh my miserable Fate! That I am born to be this flesh and blood woman!
Oh my miserable Fate! That I am born a princess, sitting on a throne, that he dare not raise his eyes to meet mine!
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SHER 4:
Man:
Her single gesture moves my soul,
though my body may be still
A single word from her heals life's countless wounds,
and I am very ill,
Not being aware of it, my heart she steals
Her words soothe, her touch heals
and I am very ill.
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Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2015
All rights reserved
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