milatii hai Khuu-e-yaar se naar iltihaab me.n
kaafir huu.N gar na milatii ho raahat azaab me.n
[Khuu-e-yaar=lover’s nature/behavior/habit, naar=fire, iltihaab=flame, azaab=sorrow]
kab se huu.N kyaa bataauu.N jahaa.N-e-Kharaab me.n
shab haaye hijr ko bhii rakhuu.N gar hisaab me.n
[jahaa.N-e-Kharaab=world of problems, shab=night, hijr=separation]
taa phir na intazaar me.n nii.nd aaye umr bhar
aane kaa ahad kar gaye aaye jo Khwaab me.n
[taa=so that, ahad=promise ]
qaasid ke aate aate Khat ik aur likh rakhuu.N
mai.n jaanataa huu.N jo vo likhe.nge jawaab me.n
[qaasid=messenger ]
mujh tak kab un kii bazm me.n aataa thaa daur-e-jaam
saaqii ne kuchh milaa na diyaa ho sharaab me.n
[bazm=meeting, saaqii=bar-tender ]
jo munkir-e-vafaa ho fareb us pe kyaa chale
kyuu.N badagumaa.N huu.N dost se dushman ke baab me.n
[munkir-e-vafaa=one vho denies loyalty, fareb=illusion/fraud]
[badagumaa.N=suspicious, baab=company]
mai.n muztarib huu.N vasl me.n Khauf-e-raqiib se
Daalaa hai tum ko vahm ne kis pech-o-taab me.n
[muztarib=anxious/disturbed, vasl=meeting vith the lover, Khauf=fear]
[raqiib=opponent, pech-o-taab=predicament ]
mai aur hizz-e-vasl, Khudaa_saaz baat hai
jaa.N nazr denii bhuul gayaa iztiraab me.n
[mai=bar, hizz-e-vasl=joy of meeting, Khudaa_saaz=god’s gift, iztiraab=anxiety ]
hai tevarii cha.Dii huii a.ndar naqaab ke
hai ik shikan pa.Dii huii tarf-e-naqaab me.n
[shikan=wrinkle, tarf=eyelid ]
laakho.n lagaav, ik churaanaa nigaah kaa
laakho.n banaav, ik biga.Danaa itaab me.n
[itaab=anger]
vo naalaa dil me.n Khas ke baraabar jagah na paaye
jis naale se shigaaf pa.De aafataab me.n
[naalaa dil=crying heart, Khas=hay/grass, shiGaaf=crack, aafataab=sun]
vo sehr muddaa talbii me.n na kaam aaye
jis sehr se safinaa ravaa.N ho saraab me.n
[sehr=magic, muddaa talbii=fulfillme.nt of a desire;]
[safinaa=boat, ravaa.N=move, saraab=mirage]
‘Ghalib’ chuTii sharaab, par ab bhii kabhii kabhii
piitaa huu.N roz-e-abr-o-shab-e-maahataab me.n
[abr=clouds, roz-e-abr=cloudy day, maahataab=moon ]