roz khun hote hain do-chaar tere kuche mein
ek hangama hai ai yar tere kuche mein

every day, some in your street are slain
my love, a furor now infests your lane

farsh-e-rah hain jo dil-afgar tere kuche mein
khak ho raunaq-e-gulzar tere kuche mein

with bloodied hearts your street is littered now
your street can never have the garden's glow

sarfarosh aate hain ai yar tere kuche mein
garm hai maut ka bazar tere kuche mein

as ardent martyrs, in your street arrive
death's marketplace begins to hum and thrive

sher bas ab na kahunga ki koi padhta tha
apne haali mere ashaar tere kuche mein

i'll speak no more, as someone does repeat
as if his own, my verses, in your street

na mila hum ko kabhi teri gali mein aaram
na hua hum pe juz aazar tere kuche mein

no comfort in your street i ever found
save torture nothing else was all around

malak-ul-maut ke ghar ka tha irada apna
le gaya shauq-e-ghalat-kar tere kuche mein

to go to death's abode resolved, in vain,
but wayward wishes led me to your lane

tu hai aur ghair ke ghar jalwa-taraazi ki hawas
hum hain aur hasrat-e-didar tere kuche mein

at my rival's home you preen and prance
whilst in your lane i yearn for just a glance

hum bhi warasta-mizaji ke hain apni qail
khuld mein ruh tan-e-zar tere kuche mein

my love of freedom will ever remain
my soul in heaven, body in your lane

kya tajahul se ye kahta hai kahan rahte ho
tere kuche mein sitamgar tere kuche mein

of my address such ignorance you feign
tis in your lane, o tyrant, in your lane

'shefta' ek na aaya to na aaya kya hai
roz aa rahte hain do-chaar tere kuche mein

what matters if just sheftaa stays away?
as several come, dwell in your lane each day