paida hua wakil to shaitan ne kaha
lo aaj hum bhi sahib-e-aulad ho gae
seeing the lawyer born, satan was moved to say
lo and behold I have become a father today
Akbar Allahabadi
ahta hai ibaadat mein hamein maut ka khaTka
hum yaad-e-KHuda karte hain, kar le na KHuda yaad
As I pray I am afraid that death should not befall
While I do remember God, he should not recall
Akbar Allahabadi
wasl ho ya firaq ho 'akbar'
jagna raat bhar musibat hai
whether in blissful union or in separation
staying up all night, is a botheration
Akbar Allahabadi
ye dilbari ye naz ye andaz ye jamal
insan kare agar na teri chah kya kare
this loveliness, this mischief, this style this beauty too
what can a person do save fall in love with you
Akbar Allahabadi
chaman mein rahne walon se to hum sahra-nashin achchhe
bahaar aa ke chali jati hai virani nahin jati
we desert dwellers have a stable state
compared to those that in gardens stay
Akhtar Shirani
kanTon se dil lagao jo ta-umr sath den
phulon ka kya jo sans ki garmi na sah saken
befriend the thorns for they will be loyal until death
what of these flowers that will wilt with just a burning breath
Akhtar Shirani
maqtal-e-shauq ke aadab nirale hain bahut
dil bhi qatil ko diya karte hain sar se pahle
love's killing grounds has etiquette that is truly apart
before the killer takes your head you have to give your heart
Ali Sardar Jafri