kab wo sunta hai kahani meri
aur phir wo bhi zabani meri
when does she ever heed my state
and that too then when i narrate
khalish-e-ghamza-e-khun-rez na puchh
dekh khunaba-fishani meri
of murderous glance ask not the pain
see tears of blood that my eyes rain
kya bayan kar ke mera roenge yar
magar aashufta-bayani meri
what else will friends relate, bemoan
but for my verses' distressed tone
hun za-khud rafta-e-baida-e-khayal
bhul jaana hai nishani meri
i roam in thought's deserts alone
by my forgetfulness i'm known
mutaqabil hai muqabil mera
ruk gaya dekh rawani meri
my rival sits now face to face
he's flummoxed by my wit and grace
qadr-e-sang-e-sar-e-rah rakhta hun
sakht arzan hai girani meri
me as a roadside rock they view
real low priced is my high value
gard-baad-e-rah-e-betabi hun
sarsar-e-shauq hai bani meri
whirlwind in paths of discontent
i'm wrought by gale of love's foment
dahan us ka jo na malum hua
khul gai hech madani meri
her mouth, to me, could not be known
my ignorance to all i've shown
kar diya zof ne aajiz 'ghaalib'
nang-e-piri hai jawani meri
me, feebleness does so debase
for dotage, my youth's a disgrace