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Date: 7-Jul-99
Poet: Mirza Ghalib

shikave ke naam se bemehar Khafaa hotaa hai
ye bhii mat kah ke jo kahiye to gilaa hotaa hai

[shikavaa = complaint]

pur huu.N mai.n shikave se yuu.N raag se jaise baajaa
ik zaraa chhe.Diye phir dekhiye kyaa hotaa hai

[pur honaa = to be filled (with)]

go samajhataa nahii.n par husn-talaafii dekho
shikavaa-e-jaur se sar-garm-e-jafaa hotaa hai

[husn-talaafii = beautiful way of forgiveness]
[shikavaa-e-jaur = complaint about torture/oppression]
[sar-garm-e-jafaa = busy in being unfaithful (torture to the lover)]

ishq kii raah me.n hai charKh-e-makaukab kii vo chaal
sust-rau jaise ko_ii aabalaa_paa hotaa hai

[charKh-e-makaukab = star-sudded sky]
[sust-rau = slow speed; aabalaa_paa = one who has blisters on the feet]

kyuu.N na Thahare.n hadaf-e-naavak-e-bedaad ke ham
aap uThaa laate hai.n gar tiir Khataa hotaa hai

[hadaf-e-naavak-e-bedaad = target of (arrow of) oppression/injustice]
[tiir Khataa honaa = misdirected arrow]

Khuub thaa, pahale se hote jo ham apane bad-Khvaah
ke bhalaa chaahate ha.n aur buraa hotaa hai

[bad-Khvaah = ill-wisher]

** Reminds me of a Momin sher:

maa.Ngaa kare.nge ab se duaa hijr-e-yaar kii 
aaKhir ko dushmanii hai asar ko duaa ke saath **

naalaa jaataa thaa pare arsh se meraa aur ab
lab tak aataa hai, jo aisaa hii rasaa hotaa hai

[naalaa = wailing/cry; pare arsh = beyond the skies]
[rasaa = reaches]