na hui gar mere marne se tasalli na sahi
imtihan aur bhi baqi ho to ye bhi na sahi

my dying didn't render relief, it does not matter much
if further trials now remain, then let them be as such

khar khar-e-alam-e-hasrat-e-didar to hai
shauq gul-chin-e-gulistan-e-tasalli na sahi

no matter ardor could not reap, the rose of its delight
the thorns of sorrow still remain from thirsting for your sight

mai-parastan khum-e-mai munh se lagae hi bane
ek din gar na hua bazm mein saqi na sahi

wine worshippers tis surely meet, drink from the jar today
if saaqi's missing for a day, no cause is for dismay

nafas-e-qais ki hai chashm-o-charagh-e-sahra
gar nahin sham-e-siyah-khana-e-laili na sahi

as majnuu.n's breath was reason for the desert's light and sheen
lantern of lailaa's darkened tent, let it not have been

ek hangame pe mauquf hai ghar ki raunaq
nauha-e-gham hi sahi naghma-e-shadi na sahi

if just on clamor now depends, the home's hullabaloo
if be not songs of joy, no loss, with sorrow's cries make do

na sataish ki tamanna na sile ki parwa
gar nahin hain mere ashaar mein mani na sahi

i do not harbor hope for praise nor care i for compense
thus if my lines are meaningless, with them, you may dispense

ishrat-e-sohbat-e-khuban hi ghanimat samjho
na hui 'ghaalib' agar umr-e-tabii na sahi

be thankful for the ecstacy of beauties' company
e'en if you died before your time, at least was joyfully