kabhii ay haqiiqat-e muntazir

kabhii ay haqiiqat-e muntazir nazar aa libaas-e majaaz meN
kih hazaaroN sijde taRap rahe haiN mirii jabiin-e niyaaz meN

sometime, oh awaited Reality, come into view in the dress of contingency
for all the thousands of prostrations are writhing in my forehead of humility

tarab-aashnaa-e Kharosh ho tuu navaa hai mahram-e gosh ho
vuh sarod kyaa kih chhupaa huaa ho sukuut-e pardah-e saaz meN

become joy-acquainted with clamor; you are a voice, become an intimate of
the ear what [kind of] sarod is it that would be hidden in the silence of the
curtain/tone/fret of an instrument?

tuu bachaa bachaa ke nah rakh use tiraa aainah hai vuh aainah
kih shikastah ho to aziiz-tar hai nigaah-e aainah-saaz meN

don't you carefully keep it safe-- your mirror is that mirror
that if it would be broken, then it is dearer in the sight of the mirror-maker

dam-e tauf kirmak-e shama ne yih kahaa kih vuh asar-e kuhan
nah tirii hikaayat-e soz meN nah mirii hadiis-e gudaaz meN

at the moment of circumambulation the candle-insect said this: that 'that old effect
is neither in your tale of burning, nor in my story of melting'

nah kahiiN jahaaN meN amaaN milii jo amaaN milii to kahaaN milii
mire jurm-e Khaanah-Kharaab ko tire afv-e bandah-navaaz meN

nowhere in the world was peace available; if peace would be available,
then where would it be available to my house-wrecking sin,

in your servant-cherishing forgiveness?

nah vuh ishq meN rahiiN garmiyaaN nah vuh husn meN rahiiN shoKhiyaaN
nah vuh Gaznavii meN taRap rahii nah vuh Kham hai zulf-e ayaaz meN

neither did those fervors remain in passion, nor did those mischievousnesses
remain in beauty, neither did that writhing remain in the Ghaznavi, nor
is there that curl in the locks of Ayaz

jo maiN sar basijdah huaa kabhii to zamiiN se aane lagii sadaa
teraa dil to hai .sanam-aashnaa tujhe kyaa milegaa namaaz meN

when once I put my head down in prostration, then from the ground a
voice began to come, 'your heart is acquainted with idols-- what
will you get from namaz?'

laalah-e .sahraa

yih guNbad-e miinaaii ! yih aalam-e tanhaaii !
mujko to Daraatii hai is dasht kii pahnaaii !


this dome of azure! this state/world of solitude!
it frightens me, the breadth/expanse of this desert!


bhaTkaa huaa raahii maiN , bhaTkaa huaa raahii tuu !
manzil hai kahaa;N terii ay laalah-e .sahraaii ?


I am a traveler who has lost the way, you are a traveler who has
lost the way; where is your destination, oh desert tulip?


KHaalii hai kaliimoN se yih koh-o-kamar varnah
tuu shulah-e siinaaii , maiN shulah-e siinaaii !


this mountain and foothills are empty of speakers-- otherwise
you are a flame of Sinai, I am a flame of Sinai!


tuu shaax se kyuuN phuuTaa , maiN shaax se kyuuN TuuTaa
ik jazbah-e paidaaii ! ik lazzat-e yaktaaii !


why did you burst into bloom from the branch, why did I
break from the branch?a single emotion of birth/creation!
a single relish of uniqueness!


Gavvaa.s-e muhabbat kaa allaah nigah-baaN ho
har qa:trah-e daryaa meN , daryaa kii hai gahraaii !


may God be the guardian of the diver of love
in every drop of the ocean, is the depth of the ocean


us mauj ke maatam meN rotii hai bhaNvar kii aaNkh
daryaa se uThii , lekin saahil se nah Takraaii !


the eye of the whirlpool weeps in mourning for that wave
[that] arose from the ocean, but didn't collide with the shore!


hai garmii-e aadam se hangaamah-e aalam garm
suuraj bhii tamaashaaii , taare bhii tamaashaaii !


from the heat/fervor of Adam, the commotion/tumult of the world
is hot/fervent the sun too is a spectator, the stars too are spectators !

ay baad-e biyaabaanii mujko bhii inaayat ho;
KHaamoshii-o-dil-sozii , sarmastii-o-ranaaii !


oh desert wind, may there be vouchsafed to me too
silence and heart-burningness, intoxication and gracefulness!

jibriil-o-ibliis

Jibriil ham-dam-e derinah ! kaisaa hai jahaan-e rang-o-buu ?
Ibliis soz-o-saaz-o-dard-o-daa;G-o-justajuu-o-aarzuu !

Jibril: Old friend! How is the world of color and scent?
Iblis: Burning and creativity and pain and wounds and searching and longing!

Jibriil har gha;Rii aflaak par rahtii hai terii guftaguu
kyaa nahii;N mumkin kih teraa chaak-e daaman ho rafuu ?

Jibril: In the heavens, we constantly speak of you.
Isn't it possible that the rip in your garment-hem might be mended?

Ibliis aah ay jibriil tuu vaaqif nahiiN us raaz se
kar gayaa sarmast mujh ko Tuut kar meraa subuu !

Iblis: Ah, oh Gabriel, you are not acquainted with that secret
that intoxicated me, my cup having broken!

ab yahaaN merii gu zar mumkin nahiiN , mumkin nahiiN
kis qadar xaamosh hai yih aalam-e be-kaax-o-kuu !

Now my access here is not possible, not possible.
How silent it is, this world without palaces and streets!

jis kii naumiidii se ho soz-daruun-e kaa inaat
us ke haq me taqna:uu achchhaa hai yaa laa-taqna tuu ?

The one through whose despair is the inner burning of creation--
with regard to him, is (Arabic) "Despair!" better, or (Arabic)
"Do not despair!"? = These imperatives are from the Qur'an.

Jibriil kho diye inkaar se tuu ne maqaamaat-e buland
chashm-e yazdaaN me;N firishtoN kii rahii kyaa aabruu !

Jibril: You've lost, through refusal, lofty ranks/positions
In the eyes of God, what honor remained for the angels?
== In other words, Iblis's behavior has discredited the whole group of angels.

Ibliis hai mirii jurat se musht-e xaak meN zauq-e namuu
mere fitne jaamah-e aql-o-xirad kaa taar-o-puu !

Iblis: Through my courage, in the handful of dust is the relish for growth
My mischiefs/rebellions are the warp and woof of the garment of wisdom and knowledge.
= The "handful of dust" is of course what Adam was made from.

dekhtaa hai tuu faqa:t saa hil se razm-e xair-o-shar
kaun :tuufaaN ke :tamaaNche kha rahaa hai ? maiN kih tuu ?

You only look from shore at the battle of good and evil
Who is feeling the buffets of the typhoon-- I, or you?

Khi.zr bhii be-dast-o-paa , ilyaas bhii be-dast-o-paa
mere tuufaaN yam bah yam , daryaa bah daryaa , juu bah juu !

Khizr too is helpless, Elias too is helpless
My typhoons are ocean by ocean, sea by sea, stream by stream!

gar kabhii xalvat muyassar ho to puuchh allaah se
qi.s.sah-e aadam ko rangiiN kar gayaa kis kaa lahuu ?

If sometime you would have a chance to be in private, then ask God,
Whose blood made colorful the story of Adam?

maiN khaTaktaa huuN dil-e yazdaaN meN kaaNTe kii :tarah ,
tuu faqat all;aah huu , allaah huu , allaah huu !

I prick like a thorn in the heart of God,You are only [in Arabic] "God is He,
God is He, God is He"! = That is, Gabriel is just a yes-man who does
nothing but blindly praise God.

The World is a Playground

Baazi-cha-aie-Atfal Hai Dunia, Mere Aage
Hota Hai Shaboroze Tamasha Mere Aage

Ik Khel Hai Aurang-e-suleman, Mere Nazdeek
Ik Baat Hai Ajaaz-a-Maseehah, Mere Aage

Juz Naam, Nahin Surat-a-aalam Mujhe Manzoor
Juz Vaham, Nahin Hasti-e-ashiya, Mere Aage

Hota Hai Nihan Gard Mein Sahra, Mere Hote
Ghista Hai Jabin Khak Pe Dariya, Mere Aage

Mut Poochh, Ki Kya Haal Hai Mera, Tere Peeche
Tu Dekh Ki Kya Rung Hai Tera, Mere Aage

Sach Kehte Ho Khudbeen-o-Khuddara Hun, Kyon Na Hun?
Baitha Hai Butt-a-Aaeena-Seema, Mere Aage

Phir Dekhiye, Andaz-e-Gul-Afshani-e-Guftaar
Rakh De Koyee Paimana-o-Sahba Mere Aage

Nafrat Ka Guman Guzre Hai, Mein Rushk Se Guzra
Kyonkar Kahun, Lo Naam Na Unka Mere Aage

Iman Mujhe Roke Hai, To Khenche Hai Mujhe Kufra
Kaba Mere Peeche Hai, Kalisa Mere Aage

Aashiq Hun, Per Mashook-Farebi Hai Mera Kaam
Majnun Ko Bura Kehti Hai Laila Mere Aage

Khush Hote Hain, Pur, Vasl Mein Yon Mur Nahin Jaate
Aayee Shab-a-Hijran Ki Tamanna Mere Aage

Hai Moujzan Ik Kulzum-e-Khun, Kaash, Yahi Ho
Aata Hai, Abhi Dekhiye, Kya Kya, Mere Aage

Go Hath Mein Jumbish Nahin, Aankhon Mein To Dum Hai
Rahne Do Abhi Sagar-O-Meena, Mere Aage

Humpesh-O-Hummastrab-O-Humraaz Hai Mera
"Ghalib" to Bura Kyon Kaho, Accha Mere Aage

** English Translation:

I perceive the world as a playground
Where dawn and dusk appear in eternal rounds

In His Universal form is a plaything the throne of Solomon
The miracles of the Messiah seem so ordinary in my eyes

Without name I cannot comprehend any form
Illusionary but is the identity of all objects

My anguish envelopes the entire desert
Silently flows the river in front of my floods

Ask not what separation has done to me
Just see your poise when I come in front of you

Truly you say that I am egotistical and proud
It is the reflection, O friend, in your limited mirror

To appreciate the style and charm of conversation
Just bring in the goblet and wine

Hatred manifests due to my envious mind
Thus I say, don't take his name in front of me

Faith stops me while temptations attract
Inspite of Kaaba behind and church ahead

I am the Lover, yet notorious is my charm
Thus Laila calls names to Majnu in front of me

"Dies" not one though the union is a delight
In premonition of the separation night

Alas, this be it, the bloody separation wave
I know not what else is in store ahead of me

Though the hands don't move, the eyes are alive
Wine and goblet, let them stay in front of me

Says "Ghalib" Conscience is companion and trusted friend
Don't pass any judgments in front of me.

hastii apanii hubaab kii sii hai

hastii apanii hubaab kii sii hai
ye numaaish saraab kii sii hai

naazukii us ke lab kii kyaa kahiye
pa.nkha.Dii ik gulaab kii sii hai

baar baar us ke dar pe jaataa huu.N
haalaat ab iztiraab kii sii hai

mai.n jo bolaa kahaa ke ye aawaaz
usii Khaaana-Kharaab kii sii hai

'Meer' un niim-baaz aa.Nkho.n me.n
saarii mastii sharaab kii sii hai

* English Translation:

Our life is like a bubble,
A mirage all this show.
With heart's eye see the world
It's all a dream, no more
The softness of her lip
Is only meant to be Felt,
so like it is Petals of the the rose.
O Mir, within those eyes,
Sleep-heavy and half-awake,
Resides, it seems the entire
Drunkenness of wine.