milate ho usi ko khak mein jo dil se milta hai
meri jaan chahne wala badi mushkil se milta hai

those who meet you lovingly then into dust you grind
those who bear affection, dear, are very hard to find

kahin hai id ki shadi kahin matam hai maqtal mein
koi qatil se milta hai koi bismil se milta hai

festive joy in places, elsewhere gloom of genocide
some like the murderer rejoice, some victim-like abide

pas-e-parda bhi laila hath rakh leti hai aankhon par
ghubar-e-na-tawan-e-qais jab mahmil se milta hai

lailaa covers up her eyes even behind the veil
when her carriage is beset by dust of majnuu.n frail

bhare hain tujh mein wo lakhon hunar ai majma-e-khubi
mulaqati tera goya bhari mahfil se milta hai

you do possess a myriad skills , a throng of talents bring
one who meets you is as though he meets a gathering

mujhe aata hai kya kya rashk waqt-e-zabh us se bhi
gala jis dam lipat kar khanjar-e-qatil se milta hai

what envy i feel for my neck, even in slaughter's face
when the dagger of the killer takes it in embrace

ba-zahir ba-adab yun hazrat-e-naseh se milta hun
murid-e-khas jaise murshid-e-kaamil se milta hai

it's obvious so respectfully the preacher i do greet
just as a special pupil does the perfect master meet

misal-e-ganj-e-qarun ahl-e-hajat se nahin chhupta
jo hota hai sakhi khud dhund kar sail se milta hai

like the wealth of croseus, from poor he does not hide,
a philanthrope seeks out the needy, himself, to provide

jawab is baat ka us shokh ko kya de sake koi
jo dil le kar kahe kam-bakht tu kis dil se milta hai

an answer to her mishievous comment what can there be
who takes my heart and says "you fool, you meet me heartlessly"

chhupae se koi chhupti hai apne dil ki betabi
ki har tar-e-nafas apna rag-e-bismil se milta hai

can restlessness be hidden then, however may be tried
as every ragged breath now does with wounded veins collide

adam ki jo haqiqat hai wo puchho ahl-e-hasti se
musafir ko to manzil ka pata manzil se milta hai

seek from the people of this world, the truth of death's domain
for in this path from present stops, past's knowledge will obtain

ghazab hai 'dagh' ke dil se tumhaara dil nahin milta
tumhaara chand sa chehra mah-e-kaamil se milta hai

tis wonder that your heart rejects this heart, so scarred, of mine
your moon-like face resembles when, the full-moon's face divine