aah ko chāhiye ik umr asar hote tak
kaun jiitā hai tirī zulf ke sar hote tak
A prayer needs a lifetime, an answer to obtain
who can live until the time that you decide to deign
dām-e-har-mauj meñ hai halqa-e-sad-kām-e-nahañg
dekheñ kyā guzre hai qatre pe guhar hote tak
snares are spread in every wave, and reptiles in each lure
see, till it turns into a pearl, what must a drop endure
āshiqī sabr-talab aur tamannā betāb
dil kā kyā rañg karūñ ḳhūn-e-jigar hote tak
Love has a need for patience, desires are a strain
as long my ache persists, how shall my heart sustain
tā-qayāmat shab-e-furqat meñ guzar jā.egī umr
saat din ham pe bhī bhārī haiñ sahar hote tak
Agreed, you won’t ignore me, I know but then again
Into dust will I be turned, your audience till I gain
ham ne maanā ki taġhāful na karoge lekin
ḳhaak ho jā.eñge ham tum ko ḳhabar hote tak
The Sun’s burning intensity is the dewdrop’s bane
So till I’m favoured with a glance, I too shall remain
partav-e-ḳhur se hai shabnam ko fanā kī ta.alīm
maiñ bhī huuñ ek ināyat kī nazar hote tak
O ignorant, less than a glance does life’s leisure remain
for the dancing of the spark will the warmth sustain
yak nazar besh nahīñ fursat-e-hastī ġhāfil
garmī-e-bazm hai ik raqs-e-sharar hote tak
save death, Asad what else release from this life of pain?
a Lamp must burn in every hue till dawn is there again
ġham-e-hastī kā ‘asad’ kis se ho juz marg ilaaj
sham.a har rañg meñ jaltī hai sahar hote tak