Haazaron kwaashen aisi ke har khwaish pe dam nikle,
Bahut nikle mere armaan, lekin phir bhi dam nikle.
Thousands of desires, tantalizing one and all,
Many a wish have I realised; yet I yearn for more.
Nikalna khuld se aadam, ka sunte aae the lekin,
Bahut be aabroo ho kar tere kuche se ham nikle.
Often have we heard about Adam's exile from Eden,
Humiliating much more was my exit from your door.
Mahabbat mein nahin hai farq jeene aur marne ka,
Usi ko dekh kar jeete hain, jis kaafir pe dam nikle.
There is little difference in life and death when we are in love,
The same infidel sustains our life, for whom we pine to die.
Kahaan maikhana ka darwaaza Ghalib, aur kahaan waiz,
Par itna jante hain kal woh jaata tha ke ham nikle.
The preacher and the tavern door are things wide apart,
Yet yesterday I saw him enter, as I was coming out.
Haazaron kwaashen aisi ke har khwaish pe dam nikle,
Bahut nikle mere armaan, lekin phir bhi dam nikle.
Thousands of desires, tantalizing one and all,
Many a wish have I realised; yet I yearn for more.
-- Mirza AsadUllah Khan 'Ghalib' [translated by Samir]
