koī ummīd bar nahīñ aatī
koī sūrat nazar nahīñ aatī
no hope is there that now comes to light
nor is there any avenue in sight
maut kā ek din muayyan hai
niind kyuuñ raat bhar nahīñ aatī
when for death a day has been ordained
what reason that I cannot sleep all night?
aage aatī thī hāl-e-dil pe hañsī
ab kisī baat par nahīñ aatī
nothing now could even make me smile,
I once could laugh at my heart’s own plight
jāntā huuñ savāb-e-tā.at-o-zohd
par tabī.at idhar nahīñ aatī
virtues of restraint and prayer I know
but neither do my temperament excite
hai kuchh aisī hī baat jo chup huuñ
varna kyā baat kar nahīñ aatī
Do you think I know not how to speak?
There’s something- my tongue I have to bite
kyuuñ na chīḳhūñ ki yaad karte haiñ
merī āvāz gar nahīñ aatī
when absence of my voice makes her pine
why then should I not shout with all my might?
dāġh-e-dil gar nazar nahīñ aatā
bū bhī ai chārāgar nahīñ aatī
O healer does not any smell persist
if burning scars of heart are not in sight?
ham vahāñ haiñ jahāñ se ham ko bhī
kuchh hamārī ḳhabar nahīñ aatī
I’m at a place from where no news of me
now even to myself can come to light
marte haiñ aarzū meñ marne kī
maut aatī hai par nahīñ aatī
I die yearning as I hope for death
Death does come to me but then not quite
kaaba kis muñh se jāoge ‘ġhālib’
sharm tum ko magar nahīñ aatī
Ghalib,what face will you to the kaabaa take
when you are not ashamed and not contrite
