kuuchaa-e-yaar ‘ain Kaasii hai
jogii-e-dil vahaaN kaa baasii hai
pii ke bairaag kii udaasii suuN
dil pe mere sadaa udaasii hai
zulf terii hai mauj Jamnaa kii
til nazik uske jyuN sanaasii hai
ye siyaah zulf tujh zanakhdaaN par
naaginii jyuN kuNve pe pyaasii hai
jis kii guftaar meN nahiiN hai mazaa
suKhan uskaa ta’am-e-baasii hai
ai “Wali” jo libaas tan pe rakhaa
aashiqaaN ke nazik libaasii hai
Wali Dakhani
English Translation by Shah Abdus Salam from Urdu Poetry: An Anthology up to 19th Century.
Beloved’s lane is exactly like (holy city of) Kashi
(My) ascetic heart dwells therein
Due to the sadness of the separation from the beloved
My heart is always immersed in dejection
Your tresses are the waves of Jamuna (river)
(And) the mole next to (the tresses) is the ascetic (on the bank)
Black tresses on your chin’s depression
Are like the thirsty cobra on the well
(One) whose speech does not have any taste (beauty)
His eloquence is just like the stale food
O Wali ! the garment which is on (your) body
Is (nothing but) an artificial (one) for the lovers
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