Does

Mister Sifar some strange things does
Speak to her of faithfulness, he does!

People have a passion for prayer but
Just think thoughts of you, he does

Dagger and arrow of what use to her?
Slay slowly with her eyes, she does

Whenever the talk runs to angels
Remember her beautiful face, he does

Having raced to her street, Sifar
Slow down his gait then, he does

Karte Hain

Sifarji bhi kamaal karte hain
Unse wafa ke sawaal karte hain

Logon mein namaaz ka josh hai lekin
Ham toh bas tera khayaal karte hain

Teer-o-khanjar se unko kya matlab?
Woh jo nazron se halaal karte hain

Chalti hai jab bhi baat houron ki
Yaad ham unka jamaal karte hain

Pahunch kar tezi se unki gali, Sifar
Sust phir ham apni chaal karte hain

Remains

my lines are all dust, o saqi, it is just your merciful eye that remains
your tavern is replete, but here, life very little remains

people ask of my beloved’s arrow-like glance, but what can i tell them?
sense and awareness have long been lost, just that ache in the heart remains

if roses and tulips grow upon my grave come autumn, why the surprise?
i had once run my hands through her hair, and the effect remains

i have sought for you in every direction, lord, searched each corner of the heart
now, no other option appears to me, only the street of death remains

no tongue in harmony present in the gathering, all have travelled beyond this world
for the worship of Goddess Poetry, now here only Sifar remains

Baaki Hai

Kya khaak apni laqeeren hain, bas teri nazr-e-inaayat, saqi hai
Tere maikhaane mein bauhat hai, yahaan zindagi chutki bhar baaki hai

Naawak-nigaahi-e-jaana poochchte hain, so kaise bataaein logon ko?
Hosh-o-hawaas toh kab ke gum hue, ek wohi dard-e-jigar baaki hai

Khil rahe hain khizaan mein meri qabr par laala-o-gul, toh hairaani kya?
Hue the ek baar unke gesuon se mas haath mere, awr asar baaki hai

Har ja tujhe talaasha hai khuda, har dil ke kone ko tatola hai
Ab soorat awr koi khulti nahin, bas qaza ki rahguzar baaki hai

Ham-zubaan bazm mein maujood koi nahin, kar chale sair-e-duniya sab
Haseena-e-sukhan ki ibaadat ko, ab yahaan sirf Sifar baaki hai

Not Be

Recite that poem today Sifar, which a tale of sorrow not be
Hearing which the heart aches not, the eyes moist not be

You will surely come my darling, to that i do agree
But what if when you arrive, in this body the breath not be?

What poetry is that through which pain pulses not?
How can it be love, if it a tour of sorrow not be?

Although the blood keep flowing, the cemetery keep growing
But the flame of the fire of the madness of love, lesser let not be

Many a tale have we heard Sifar, of pureness of heart
But whom does the world heed, if his pockets full not be?

Gham Na Ho

Aaj woh ghazal padho Sifar, jo bayaan-e-gham na ho
Sun kar jisey dil na baithe, awr aankh nam na ho

Tum aaoge zaroor, chalo maana hamne hamdam
Magar yun na ho ke tab tak, dam mein dam na ho

Woh shaayari kaisi, jis mein dard na dhadke
Woh aashiqi hi kya jo daur-e-sitam na ho

Chaahe bahta rahe lahu, bharti rahe maqtal
Josh-e-junoon-e-ishq magar hargiz kam na ho

Sune bauhat hain Sifar paak-dili ke fasaane
Kisey poochchti hai duniya gar jeb pur-rakam na ho

A Bit There, And A Bit Here

The spark of love is alight, a bit there, and a bit here
But, fear of calumny is also bright, a bit there, and a bit here

Be it love or hatred, speak you up without fear!
What is this signal that goes, a bit there, and a bit here?

It is the truth that we started off following the straightest path
It is Life that took us, a bit there and a bit here

One hand on a glass of wine, the other on the Eternal Secret
But, what of these whims of mine, a bit there, a bit here?

Where shall we return, Sifar, where is our nest?
So far we have been travellers, a bit there and a bit here

Kuchh Udhar, Kuchh Idhar

Aatish-e-ishq toh rawaan hai, kuchh udhar kuchh idhar
Khauf-e-ruswaai bhi magar jawaan hai, kuchh udhar kuchh idhar

Ishq ho ya bair, bayaan karo tum be-jihijak
Ye kya ke ishaara hai, kuchh udhar kuchh idhar

Nikle toh ham zaroor the, seedhi-si raah par
Kambakht zindagi hai jo le chali, kuchh udhar kuchh idhar

Ek haath jam-e-mai hai, toh doosre raaz-e-haq
Magar ek apni tabeeyat hai, kuchh udhar kuchh idhar

Kahaan lawtenge ham, Sifar, kaun apna thikaana hai
Ab tak toh musaafir rahe, kuchh udhar kuchh idhar

Would Be Good!

that i should now travel beyond this world, would be good
to repay the debt of every breath on life would be good!

when was a merciful glance bestowed upon us, then why believe
that she would so much as look at me? but, it would be good!

mischief in the Saqi’s eyes, or the sorrow of the times
whichever the case might be, its effect on us would be good!

let the night descend, the moon descend, and the veil from her face descend, too
if ever many liquors were to be mixed so, it would be good!

long days have you stayed here, many a blessing enjoyed
were you to become human now Sifar, it would be good!

Achhaa Ho

kar chalein ab ham is jahaan se guzar, achhaa ho
utre karz har dam ka zindagi par, achhaa ho!

kab thi inaayat-e-nigaah-e-karam, phir kyon yakeen?
ke pade gi ham pe unki nazar, magar achhaa ho!

shokhi-e-nazr-e-saqi ho, ya gham-e-dauraan ho
jo kuchh bhi ho ham par us ka asar, achhaa ho!

raat utre, maihtaab utre, awr utre naqaab-e-rukh
mil jaaye yun kabhi mai se mai agar, achhaa ho!

kaee roz rah chuke idhar, bauhat utthaa liye lutf
ban jaao ab tum bhi insaan Sifar, achhaa ho!