dard minnat_kash-e-dawa na huaa
maiN na achchaa huaa, bura na huaa

jama'a karate ho kyoN raqeeboN ka ?
ik tamaasha huaa gila na huaa

ham kahaaN qismat aazmaane jaayaiN ?
too hee jab KHanjar aazma na huaa

kitne sheereeN haiN tere lab ! ki raqeeb
gaaliyaaN khaake be_maza na huaa

hai KHabar garm unke aane kee
aaj hee ghar meiN boriya na huaa !

kya woh namrood kee KHudaaee thee
bandagee meiN tera bhala na huaa

jaan dee, dee huee usee ki thee
haq to ye hai ke haq adaa na huaa

zaKHm gar dab gaya, lahoo na thama
kaam gar ruk gaya rawanah huaa

rahzanee hai ki dil_sitaanee hai ?
leke dil, dil_sitaaN rawanah huaa

kuchch to paDhiye ki log kehte haiN
'aaj 'GHalib' GHazalsara na huaa'


pain did not become grateful to medicine
I didn't get well; [but it] wasn't bad either

why are you gathering the Rivals?
[It was just] a mere spectacle [that] took place, no complaint was made

where would we go to test our fate/ destiny?
when you yourself did not put your dagger to test 

How sweet are your lips, that the rival
[after] receiving abuse, did not lack pleasure

Recent/ hot news is that she is coming
Only today, in the house there was not a straw mat!

Does the divinity belonged to Namrood'?
[cause] in your servitude, my wellbeing did not happen

[God] gave life-- the given [life] was His alone 
the truth is; that the responsibility was not fulfilled [by us]

if the wound was pressed, the blood did not stop 
[though] the task was halted, [but the bleeding still] set out

Is it highway robbery, or is it heart-theft?
having taken the heart, the heart-thief set out [to depart]
recite something, for people are saying
today ?Ghalib? was not a ghazal-reciter