Eyes of Women

A woman’s eyes when blue are often compared to the ocean, when black, to the waters of an inland lake.

The blessed damozel leaned out

From the gold bar of heaven

Her eyes were deeper then the depth

Of waters stilled at even.

Indian poets never used oceans or lakes as similes for women’s eyes. Sanskritists used flowers or animals to describe their beauty. Kamal nayani (lotus Eyed) or Mrig Naini (Doe-eyed). Persian and Urdu poet also loved them as chashe-e-ashoo (gazelle eyed) or nargisee (like the narcissus). Both Hindu and Urdu poets praise the pink-eyed (I have never seen one) of one as if drink; mast or Sharaabi.

Come four friends you never can be old

For as you were when first your eyes & I eyed

Such is your beauty still.

The lamps shone o’er fair women and brave men,

A thousand hearts beat happily and when

Music rose with its voluptuous swell

Soft eyes looked love to eyes that sparkle again

And all went merry as a marriage bell.

Woman has language in her eyes. She can use its devastating effect deployed as a side- winder inside-missile tirchee nazar, (love-darling eyes).

Milton saw “Heaven in women’s eyes” presumably before he went blind.

The light that lies

In women’s eyes

Has been my heart’s undoing.

Voh Chashme mast,

Voh Tirchee nazar, maaz Allah

Hayaa Hazaar Bharee Hai, maaz Allah

Those besotted eyes,

Those side long glances

The lord protects us!

Full of innocence

Through they be,

The lord protects us.

Jo phiree to teghe-qazaa banee

Jo milee to aab-a-baqaa huee

When they turned away, they become the

Sword of destruction.

When they met my eyes

They were the elixir of life

Dekho ji yaar ki jaadoo nigahiyaan

Har ek ko guma yahi hai ki mukhatib unhi se hai

Look at the magic in my beloved eyes

Everybody is under the illusion,

She is only looking at him.

We raised our glasses to drink to women’s eyes

“Drink to me pledge with thine eyes,

And I will pledge with mine,

Or leave a kiss but in the cup,

And I’ll not look for wine”.