Waqt apni dukan kyon sajaye baitha hai Mer’e samn’e –? Wo cheeze’n jinki kharidar thi mai’n Kaha’n hain –?

Khali Dukan

Waqt apni dukan kyon sajaye baitha hai

Mer’e samn’e –?

Wo cheeze’n jinki kharidar thi mai’n

Kaha’n hain –?

Ye musnui masar’raton ke khiloney

Shohrat ke ye kaghzi phool

Aur daulat ki ye momi dunia

Jo sheesh’e ki almarion mein ba’nd hain

(ki kisi ke choo len’e se pighal jo sakti hain)

Yeh wo cheeze’n nahin hain jinhe’n mai’n khareedna chahti hoo’n

Pyar ka ek khoobsurat khwab

Jo meri sulagti hui a’nkh mein thandak bhar de

Mohabbat ka ek purtapak lamha

Jo meri bechain rooh ko pursukoon kar de

Bas inhin ek do cheezo’n ki mai’n khareedar thi

Aur waqt ki dukan in cheezo’n se khali hai

The Empty Shop

Why has Time spread out its wares before me?

Where are the things

I used to buy?

These spurious toys of pleasure

Paper flowers of fame

These wax dolls of wealth

Locked in glass cases

(That can melt at anyone’s touch)

These are not the things I wish to buy

A handsome dream of love

Which can cool my inflamed eyes

A moment of perfect intimacy

Which can soothe my restless soul

I came looking for nothing but these

And the shop of Time

Supplies none of these things.