The Flower
Tu Apne Pairhan Ke Chaak To Pehle Rafoo Kar Le
O flower! Why do you care for the nightingale’s wounded heart
First you should darn the slits of your own shirt!
To Kanton Mein Ulajh Kar Zindagi Karne Ki Khu Kar Le
If you long for respect in the rose garden of existence
You should get accustomed to living entangled in thorns!
Inhi Pabandiyon Mein Hasil Azadi Ko Tu Kar Le
The juniper in the garden is free as well as chained to the soil
You should acquire freedom within these constraints!
Na Reh Minnat Kash-e-Shabnam, Nigun Jaam-o-Saboo Kar Le
With contentment give message of embarrassment to miserliness
Do not remain obliged to dew, you should empty the cup and the bottle!
Koi Dastaar Mein Rakh Le, Koi Zaib-e-Guloo Kar Le
It does not befit self respect that being picked from the garden
You should be put in some turban or pinned to some collar!
Mazaq-e-Jour-e-Gulcheen Ho To Paida Rang-o-Bu Kar Le
The dew disappeared from garden saying to the flower bud
If you love gardener’s oppression, you should create beauty
Jahan-e-Rang-o-Bu Se, Pehle Qataa-e-Arzu Kar Le
If you want to remain unacquainted with autumn
First you should abandon the desire for the beauty’s world
Jo Tujh Ko Zeenat-e-Daman Koi Aaeena Ru Kar Le
Look, in this alone is concealed your life’s perfection!
If you should be the decoration of some beauty’s robe!