कहूँ जो हाल तो कहते हो मुद्दआ' कहिए

कहूँ जो हाल तो कहते हो मुद्दआ' कहिए
तुम्हीं कहो कि जो तुम यूँ कहो तो क्या कहिए

when I narrate my sorry state, you ask "what do you seek?"
if in this vein you talk to me, how can I ever speak

न कहियो ता'न से फिर तुम कि हम सितमगर हैं
मुझे तो ख़ू है कि जो कुछ कहो बजा कहिए

this, proudly you should never say," I am a tyrant, true"
As I am in the habit of always agreeing with you

वो नेश्तर सही पर दिल में जब उतर जावे
निगाह-ए-नाज़ को फिर क्यूँ न आश्ना कहिए

though dagger it may surely be, does to my heart attend
why should I then not call her glance, a confidant and friend

नहीं ज़रीया-ए-राहत जराहत-ए-पैकाँ
वो ज़ख़्म-ए-तेग़ है जिस को कि दिल-कुशा कहिए

incision of her arrow causes comfort nor release
it is the wound caused by her sword, which does my heart appease

जो मुद्दई' बने उस के न मुद्दई' बनिए
जो ना-सज़ा कहे उस को न ना-सज़ा कहिए

he who with you bears enmity, be not his enemy
to him who speaks abusively, speak not abusively

कहीं हक़ीक़त-ए-जाँ-काही-ए-मरज़ लिखिए
कहीं मुसीबत-ए-ना-साज़ी-ए-दवा कहिए

places you write the truth about ailment's fatality
and places then you talk about the cure's infirmity

कभी शिकायत-ए-रंज-ए-गिराँ-नशीं कीजे
कभी हिकायत-ए-सब्र-ए-गुरेज़-पा कहिए

times you complain of sorrow that just will not go away
and times you tell the story that, your patience will not stay

रहे न जान तो क़ातिल को ख़ूँ-बहा दीजे
कटे ज़बान तो ख़ंजर को मर्हबा कहिए

blood money to the murderer, pay, if you lose your life
and if your tongue be severerd then, say "thank you" to the knife

नहीं निगार को उल्फ़त न हो निगार तो है
रवानी-ए-रविश ओ मस्ती-ए-अदा कहिए

if my beloved loves me not, beloved still will be
still will remain her flowing gait, and heady coquetry

नहीं बहार को फ़ुर्सत न हो बहार तो है
तरावत-ए-चमन ओ ख़ूबी-ए-हवा कहिए

let spring not have time to abide, at least it did appear
talk of the garden's verdancy and breeze that blows now here

सफ़ीना जब कि किनारे पे आ लगा 'ग़ालिब'
ख़ुदा से क्या सितम-ओ-जौर-ए-ना-ख़ुदा कहिए

when safety of the shore, your vessel managed to attain
why then, to God, of the pilot's tyranny and force complain