Mirza Ghalib
aah ko chahiye ik umr asar hote tak
kaun jiita hai tiri zulf ke sar hote tak
A prayer needs a lifetime, an answer to obtain
who can live until the time that you decide to deign
dam-e-har-mauj men hai halqa-e-sad-kam-e-nahang
dekhen kya guzre hai qatre pe guhar hote tak
snares are spread in every wave, and reptiles in each lure
see, till it turns into a pearl, what must a drop endure
ashiqi sabr-talab aur tamanna betab
dil ka kya rang karun khun-e-jigar hote tak
Love has a need for patience, desires are a strain
as long my ache persists, how shall my heart sustain
ham ne maana ki taghaful na karoge lekin
khaak ho jaenge ham tum ko khabar hote tak
Agreed, you won’t ignore me, I know but then again
Into dust will I be turned, your audience till I gain
partav-e-khur se hai shabnam ko fana ki taalim
main bhi huun ek inayat ki nazar hote tak
the Sun’s burning intensity is the dewdrop’s bane
So till I’m favoured with a glance, I too shall remain
yak nazar besh nahin fursat-e-hasti ghafil
garmi-e-bazm hai ik raqs-e-sharar hote tak
O ignorant, less than a glance does life’s leisure remain
for the dancing of the spark will the warmth sustain
gham-e-hasti ka ‘asad’ kis se ho juz marg ilaaj
shama har rang men jalti hai sahar hote tak
save death, Asad what else release from this life of pain?
a Lamp must burn in every hue till dawn is there again
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