This poem was translated by Professor Carlo Coppola as part of the MULOSIGE Translations project. You can explore our collection of Urdu Poetry here.

Professor Carlo Coppola, Oakland University

Shauq ke hāthon̲ ae dil-i muz̤t̤ar / Ghazal: O distressed heart

O distressed heart, what is happening, what will happen at the hands of Taste?

My own love has already been disgraced; now Beauty’s going to be disgraced?

.

What more than this will happen when we go into the special gathering of Beauty:

That we’ll forge some new bonds; some new promises will also be made.

.

All my respects to your remedy-making; but what will be gained from it?

The pain of Love is its own cure – will you be able to cure it?

.

Tell the simple-minded preacher to give up talking about the next world.

What is there in this world that we should look forward to the next?

.

You are, after all, Majaz the man; you may try to hide your love a hundred ways;

But this secret will be opened; it will be divulged.

      1945

 

From:  Āhang (Melody; 1938). Dihlī: Āzād Kitāb Ghar. 1956. p. 137

             

O distressed heart, what is happening, what will happen at the hands of Taste?

My own love has already been disgraced; now Beauty’s going to be disgraced?

.

What more than this will happen when we go into the special gathering of Beauty:

That we’ll forge some new bonds; some new promises will also be made.

.

All my respects to your remedy-making; but what will be gained from it?

The pain of Love is its own cure – will you be able to cure it?

.

Tell the simple-minded preacher to give up talking about the next world.

What is there in this world that we should look forward to the next?

.

You are, after all, Majaz the man; you may try to hide your love a hundred ways;

But this secret will be opened; it will be divulged.

      1945

 

From:  Āhang (Melody; 1938). Dihlī: Āzād Kitāb Ghar. 1956. p. 137