Koi Aashiq Kisi Mehbooba Se
by
Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Gulshan-e-yaad mein gar aaj dum-e-baad-e-saba
Phir se chaahe ki gul afshaan ho, to ho jaane do
Umr-e-raftaa ke kisi taaq pe bisra hua dard
Phir se chaahe ki farozaan ho, to ho jaane do
Jaise begaane se ab milte ho to vaise hi sahi
Aao do chaar ghadi mere muqaabil baitho
Garche mil baithenge hum tum to mulaaqaat ke baad
Apna ehsaas-e-ziyaan aur ziyaada hoga
Humsukhan honge hum dono to har baat ke beech
Ankahee baat ka mouhoom sa parda hoga
Koi iqraar na main yaad dilaaunga tumhein
Koi mazmoon na wafa ka na jafa ka hoga
Gard-e-ayyaam ki tehreer ko dhone ke liye
Tum se goya ho dum-e-deed jo meri palkein
Tum jo chaaho to suno, aur jo na chaaho na suno
Aur jo harf karien mujhse gurezaan ankhein
Tum jo chaaho to kaho, jo na chaaho na kaho
A lover speaks to his beloved
translated by
Mustansir Dalvi
If, in the garden of our memories, the morning breeze should scatter
Rose petals once more, well, let it be so
If, from some niche of our past forgotten aches should want
To smoulder once again, let it be so
We meet as strangers now. Well, even so, come,
Sit face to face with me, for but a moment or two
And when we sit together, we might find, in companionship
A feeling of loss that grows more and more acute
And when we speak to each other, we might find, between every word
The imagined veil of all that was left unsaid
I will not remind you of our promises
No mention will be made of love or of betrayal
To wash away the words written in the dust of days
It's as if my eyelids, in the moment of seeing
Entreat you: listen if you will, or don't
While the unspoken censure of your eyes
Tell me: say what you will, or remain silent
Translation and transliteration © 2022 Mustansir Dalvi, all rights reserved
