naqsh fariyādī hai kis kī shoḳhi-e-tahrīr kā
kāġhzī hai pairahan har paikar-e-tasvīr kā
For favours from whose playful hand, does the word aspire
Each one’s an abject supplicant in paper-like attire
kaav kāv-e-saḳht-jānī hā.e-tanhā.ī na pūchh
sub.h karnā shaam kā laanā hai jū-e-shīr kā
What constant pain this loneliness you may not believe
Like from mountains drawing milk, is passing morn to eve
jazba-e-be-iḳhtiyār-e-shauq dekhā chāhiye
sīna-e-shamshīr se bāhar hai dam shamshīr kā
The spirit of love’s frenzied state is worth, truly, seeing
As though sharpness of the sword exists outside its being
āgahī dām-e-shunīdan jis qadar chāhe bichhā.e
mudda.ā anqā hai apne ālam-e-taqrīr kā
Awareness may well cast its net of knowing all around
What I speak is like a phoenix, unknowable, profound
bas-ki huuñ ‘ġhālib’ asīrī meñ bhī ātish zer-e-pā
mū-e-ātish diida hai halqa mirī zanjīr kā
Even in bondage, passion’s so, there’s fire neath my feet
The chains that hold me are as though,hair singed by fire’s heat
ātishīñ-pā huuñ gudāz-e-vahshat-e-zindāñ na pūchh
mū-e-ātish diida hai har halqa yaañ zanjīr kā
shoḳhī-e-nairañg said-e-vahshat-e-tā.ūs hai
dām-e-sabza meñ hai parvāz-e-chaman tasḳhīr kā
lazzat-e-ījād-e-nāz afsūn-e-arz-e-zauq-e-qatl
na.al ātish meñ hai teġh-e-yār se naḳhchīr kā
ḳhisht pusht-e-dast-e-ijz o qālib āġhosh-e-vidā.a
pur huā hai sail se paimāna kis ta.amīr kā
vahshat-e-ḳhvāb-e-adam shor-e-tamāshā hai ‘asad’
jo maza jauhar nahīñ ā.īna-e-ta.abīr kā
