Who Is It?

if there is one more beautiful than the queen of the city of my heart,
who is it?
if someone brings such rest to a restless heart, who is it?

each brow furrowed, every heart fatigued
if there is one on whom the struggle to survive weighs not heavy,
who is it?

agreed that you have gathered riches and wealth galore
but, tell us - if you have a friend, a sympathiser, who is it?

evident everywhere, but present nowhere at all
the one who lies hidden in every being, who is it?

you speak with hesitation, you appear downtrodden
share with us Sifar, the cause of your sickness - who is it?

Kaun Hai

Malka-e-shaihr-e-dil sa haseen yaar kaun hai
Aisa qaraar-e-dil-e-beqaraar kaun hai

Har peshaani ba-shikan, har dil choor ba-thakan
Jis par nahin giraani-e-gham-e-rozgaar kaun hai

Maana ke batori hai toone daulat be-shumaar
Bol magar tera aziz, tera gham-khwaar kaun hai

Hai zaahir ja-ba-ja, awr maujood kahin nahin
Har shai mein jo pinhaan, woh pur-asraar kaun hai

Kahta hai daba-daba, rahta hai bujha-bujha
Bata kucch toh Sifar, teri-wajha-e-aazaar kaun hai

Nothing Remains

in this whirligig of night and day, of the signs of my existence
nothing remains
no hope, nor a memory of one: of the instruments of pain,
nothing remains

not the touch of that velvet cheek, nor the fragrance of those
ruby lips
nor the loss of consciousness come midnight - of the dangers to life, nothing remains

before the night of separation, this heart, too was a garden
in spring
the tulips and roses have all withered away, of delight in the garden nothing remains

union with the beloved, a merciful glance, a cure for suffering -
none of these
in this heart wounded by the pain of love, of desire now
nothing remains

the manner of worship forgotten, the meaning of sincerity
un-remembered
of the signs of the moment of the beginning of love, Sifar
nothing remains

Baaki Na Raha

Shab-o-roz ke phere mein hasti ka nishaan kuchh baaki na raha
Umeed koi na yaad kisi ki, dard ka saamaan kuchh baaki na raha

Na chhooan-e-aariz-e-makhmali, na hi maihak-e-lab-e-surkh
Na aakhir-e-shab woh bekhudi, khatra-e-jaan kuchh baaki na raha

Shab-e-hijr se aage ye dil bhi ek baag-e-pur-bahaar tha
Lala-o-gul sab ujad gaye, zauq-e-gulistaan kuchh baaki na raha

Wisaal-e-sanam, nazr-e-karam, madaawa-e-alam mein ek nahin
Is dil-e-ghaayal-e-gham-e-ulfat mein ab armaan kuchh baaki na raha

Tarz-e-ibaadat bhool chuke, maani-e-sadaaqat yaad nahin
Sa’at-e-ibteda-e-shauq ka Sifar unwaan kuchh baaki na raha

Aap badhiye Anna, ham saath hain

Aap badhiye Anna, ham saath hain
Aap jism-o-jaan-e-watan
Ham aapke paaon awr haath hain

Aap badhiye Anna, ham saath hain

Iska Allah, uska Isa, uska Ram hai
Ye shaihar ka khaas, woh aam hai
Koi boodha, koi naujawaan hai
Ye hakim, woh mutrib, woh tarkhaan hai

Aap badhiye Anna, ham saath hain

Bauhat pee chuke lahu zerdaston ka
Bauhat chaba chuke haddiyaan natawaanon ki
Muflison ke niwaale chheen kar bhi
Nahin miti abhi hawas hukm-shaahon ki

Aap badhiye Anna, ham saath hain

Is naasoor se chhutkaara paana hai
Is hukoomat-e-sitam ko hataana hai
Rukh-e-mulk par lagi siyahi ko mitaana hai
Ek naya Hindustan banaana hai

Aap badhiye Anna, ham saath hain

Today It Awakens

1)
so many moons the snow
has lain blissfully upon the mountain-tops
covered in its own blanket
today, it awakens

2)
and the sun, once again
with its teasing and cajoling
has aroused its mind and body
and, melting
the snow has stepped into the river

as does a maiden descend to the water
her pitcher to fill

3)
yes, the apple-trees
are still bare
in supplication
their many hands raised skyward

4)
they do not know yet
the grass has begun to green
and, scattered here and there
thousands of tiny yellow blossoms
have burst through the earth's womb
and dare to show
their infant faces to the sun

5)
but, when will this stupor be broken?
when will the people awaken?
when will honour flower?
when selflessness find its power?

god willing
today, the people will awaken!

Maihboob Meri

Phir aayee ho tum
Apni ghani, siyah, mushkbaar zulfen
Chaandni se dhoye hue

Phir aayee ho tum
Apne gudaaz jism ka ang-ang
Karodon anjum-zeba kiye hue

Awr mein, zamaanon se aashiq tumhaara
Hamesha ki tarha muntazir hoon
Apni abas aas par aitbaar kiye hue

Insaan ho koi
Toh gala ghont bhi daloon
Magar umeed kahaan marti hai?

Umeed ye nahin ke is baar
Tum thaihar jaaogi
Mere hujra-e-weeraan mein
Basar kar jaaogi

Mera tassawur itna bhi naadan nahin
Meri taqdeer itni bhi buland nahin

Umeed sirf itni ke is baar
Tum mera haath thaam kar
Wahaan, door, ufaq paar
Mujhe apne saath le chalo
Jahaan tumhaare siwa kuchh bhi nahin

Ae meri maihboob raat
Kabhi toh apne aashiq ki rakh le baat
Kabhi toh le chal mujhe apne saath

Beloved Mine

once again, you have arrived
with your thick, black, fragrant hair
washed in moonlight

once again, you have arrived
each limb of your graceful body
adorned with countless million jewels

and I, your lover for ages
as always, wait
with vain faith in my fate

were it a person
I would have strangled him
but, does hope die so easily?

hope not that, this time
you will stay:
in my chamber of desolation
spend just a day

my fancy is not that wild
my fate is not that blessed

hope just that, this time
you will hold my hand
and take me with you
there, far beyond the horizon
where nothing exists except for you

oh night, beloved mine!
someday, accede to my passion strong!
someday, take your lover along!

Beloved Mine

once again, you have arrived
with your thick, black, fragrant hair
washed in moonlight

once again, you have arrived
each limb of your graceful body
adorned with countless million jewels

and I, your lover for ages
as always, wait
with vain faith in my fate

were it a person
I would have strangled him
but, does hope die so easily?

hope not that, this time
you will stay:
in my chamber of desolation
spend just a day

my fancy is not that wild
my fate is not that blessed

hope just that, this time
you will hold my hand
and take me with you
there, far beyond the horizon
where nothing exists except for you

oh night, beloved mine!
someday, accede to my passion strong!
someday, take your lover along!