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