ghuncha-e-na-shagufta ko dur se mat dikha ki yun
bose ko puchhta hun main munh se mujhe bata ki yun

from afar do not display that unopened bud this way
when i ask you for a kiss, show me with your mouth, "this way"

pursish-e-tarz-e-dilbari kijiye kya ki bin kahe
us ke har ek ishaare se nikle hai ye ada ki yun

about her heart-stealing ways, what to ask, as ere she says
her every gesture oozes charm and proclaims " it is this way"

raat ke waqt mai piye sath raqib ko liye
aae wo yan khuda kare par na kare khuda ki yun

she partakes wine eventide, and keeps my rival beside
may lord make her come to me, but o lord! no, not this way!

ghair se raat kya bani ye jo kaha to dekhiye
samne aan baithna aur ye dekhna ki yun

"how was your night with my foe?", when this i sought to know
she came and sat in front of me, then glared as if to say "this way?"

bazm mein us ke ru-ba-ru kyun na khamosh baithiye
us ki to khamushi mein bhi hai yahi muddaa ki yun

silent why should i not be? face to face in company
even her silence implies her meaning that i stay this way

main ne kaha ki bazm-e-naz chahiye ghair se tahi
sun ke sitam-zarif ne mujh ko utha diya ki yun

when i said her company, now from strangers should be free
with cruel wit she bid me rise, showed me out saying "this way"

mujh se kaha jo yar ne jate hain hosh kis tarah
dekh ke meri be-khudi chalne lagi hawa ki yun

when my love asked this of me, "show me how your senses flee?"
seeing my stupor wafts of wind stirred to show it was "this way"

kab mujhe ku-e-yar mein rahne ki waza yaad thi
aaina-dar ban gai hairat-e-naqsh-e-pa ki yun

when in my beloved's lane, i ignorant of form remain
bewilderment of footprints show me "you should stay this way"

gar tere dil mein ho khayal wasl mein shauq ka zawal
mauj muhit-e-ab mein mare hai dast-o-pa ki yun

if, in your heart, you have this fear- in union love may disappear-
waves in the ocean thrash their limbs to show it'll be "this way"

jo ye kahe ki rekhta kyunke ho rashk-e-farsi
gufta-e-'ghaalib' ek bar padh ke use suna ki yun

if asked how urdu verse can be the envy of persian poetry
read them ghalib's odes just once, and point out to them "this way"