What Will Be

it is unclear the fate of the sorrow-filled heart what will be
tell me, the end of this love for the indifferent beauty, what will be

her memory is enough to endanger one's life
if one were to meet her suddenly, what will be?

he who is habituated to your arrow-like glances since childhood
for that young man, the fear of the gallows, what will be?

when every bud of the heart has been burned by the fire of separation
however beautiful the spring this year, the profit what will be?

the lover who waits for that ravishing beauty, death!
for him, the wait for any other beloved, what will be?

stones do not melt, however the flames might rage
profess your love time and again - the point what will be?

in your own lane have you not earned enough disrepute, Sifar?
if you were to wander into her street, what will be?

Aaj Jaagi Hai

1)
Kitne maihtaab sukh se leti
Barf chotiyon par
Khud apni chaadar odhe hue
Aaj jaagi hai

2)
Aur khurshid ne phir ek baar
Apni chhed-khaani se
Uske jism-o-jaan jaga diye hain
Awr pighal kar
Woh utri hai darya mein

Yun ke utarti ho
Panihaari koi panghat par

3)
Haan, seb ke shajar
Abhi sookhe hain
Mannat mein
Apne kaee haath phailaaye hue

4)
Abhi jaana nahin
Ke ghaas haryiaane lagi
Awr idhar-udhar
Chhote-se hazaar peele phool
Zameen ka seena chaak kar
Sar dikhaane ki
Zurrat karne lage hain

Ye zameen bhi aaj jaagi hai

5)
Magar, kab tootega ye nasha?
Kab ye khalqat kab jaagegi?
Imaan kab maihkega?
Kab fakiri chahkegi?

Inshal Allah!
Aaj ye khalqat jaagegi!

Kya Hoga

Nahin khulta ke hashr-e-dil-figaar kya hoga
Kahe koi anjaam-e-ishq-e-husn-e-bezaar kya hoga

Yaad hi unki kaafi hai jaan ki kharaabi ke liye
Ho jaaye gar kahin unka deedaar kya hoga

Daali ho khu ladakpan se jisne teri naawak-nigaahi ki
Phir us mard-e-jawaan ko khauf-e-daar kya hoga

Kar chuki jab raakh har kali dil ki aatish-e-hijr
Haseen kitni bhi ho phir ab ke bahaar kya hoga

Patthar nahi pighalte aag kitni hi kyun na bhadke
Kijiye jo shar’h-e-aarzoo baar-baar kya hoga

Hai muntazir jo aashiq qaza-e-maihwashaan ke liye
Usey kisi aur maihbooba ka intezaar kya hoga

Apni hi gali mein kya kam zillat mili hai Sifar
Chale gaye junoon mein ham jo ku-e-yaar kya hoga

Night, Murderous Night

gently, the night slips down on the land, as though
someone has lovingly placed her hand on your head

and all one's sorrows and troubles are gone all at once, as though
all one's complaints are lost in the vague half-light of dusk, as though
you and me have become intimate once again, as though

this is but a beautiful lie, beware!
the night might wear
glittering starry anklets on its feet
but, its soft hands hold
the dagger of loneliness

the dagger with which
it has murdered heaven-knows-how-many
unfortunate souls

its fragrant lips
have sipped the blood
of countless heart-broken souls

do not be taken in by the words
of the night's oh-so-sweet lips

do not fall for
the intoxicatingly slow sway of its hips

the night is a merciless, professional murderer
no matter how fragrant-glittering-intoxicating the night
do not be taken in by its soft, warm hands
do not fall into the night's soft, warm, murderous hands!

Qaatil Raat

Utar rahi hai haule se zameen par raat kuchh aise
Rakh diya ho kisi ne pyaar se sar par haath jaise

Aur saare ranj-o-gham jaise yak-ba-yak mit gaye hon
Shab ke dhundhalke mein jaise sab gile gum ho gaye hon
Maano ek baar phir jaise aashna ham-tum ho gaye hon

Hoshiyaar! Ye mahaz ek haseen fareb hai
Is raat ke paaon mein chaahe
Taaron ki damakti hui paazeb hai
Magar uske narm haath
Tanhai ka khanjar liye hue hain
Jis khanjar se usne kitne hi
Alam-naseebon ke qatl kiye hue hain
Uske mahakte hue lab
Laakhon dil-figaaron ka lahu piye hue hain

Raat ke shireen honton ki baaton mein mat aana
Uski sust-gaam chaal ke nashe se dil mat lagaana
Ye raat toh ek beraham peshewar qaatil hai
Chaahe kitni hi mushkbu-o-timtimaati-o-nasheeli kyon na ho raat
Is qaatil raat ke narm haathon pe mat jaana
Is qaatil raat ke narm haathon hargiz mat aana