us ki hasrat hai jise dil se mita bhi na sakun
dhundne us ko chala hun jise pa bhi na sakun

the one that i desire, this heart cannot displace
the one who is unattainable i seek to embrace

dal ke khak mere khun pe qatil ne kaha
kuchh ye mehndi nahin meri ki chhupa bhi na sakun

throwing dust upon my blood my murderer proclaims
tis not henna on my palms that i cannot efface

zabt kam-bakht ne yan aa ke gala ghonta hai
ki use haal sunaun to suna bhi na sakun

cursed may forbearance be for throttling my voice
now even tho' if i wish to, i cannot state my case

naqsh-e-pa dekh to lun lakh karunga sajde
sar mera arsh nahin hai jo jhuka bhi na sakun

if i could but espy her feet would surely genuflect
my head is not the lofty sky that cannot bow in praise

bewafa likhte hain wo apne qalam se mujh ko
ye wo qismat ka likha hai jo mita bhi na sakun

she pens me as unfaithful in her very hand
this is the writing of my fate that i cannot erase

is tarah soe hain sar rakh ke mere zanu par
apni soi hui qismat ko jaga bhi na sakun

she sleeps so contentedly, her head upon my lap
my fortune that is slumbering, i am loath to raise