khile jo phul to munh chhip gayaa sitaaro kaa
misaal-e-abr chalaa kaarawaan bahaaro kaa

na mujhase puch shab-e-hijr dil pe kyaa guzari
ye dekh haal hai kyaa mere gam-gusaaro kaa

na_i bahaar liye ik nayaa chaman khil jaaye
samajh sake ko_i matalab agar ishaaro kaa

shab-e-siyaah ke lamhe guzaar lene do
ghadi ghadi na karo zikr maah-paaro kaa

hu_aa na raah me ghaayal ko_i shagufaa bhi
ravaan ravaan hi ragaa qaafilaa bahaaro kaa

not part of this ghazal
aaj un raasto par tanhaa_i ki dhul udati hai
jo tere naqsh-e-kaf-e-paa se sajaa karate the

mujhe bhi ahal-e-jahaan bhul jaayege 'shahazaad'
kise khayaal hai dube huye sitaaro kaa

When blossoms bloomed, the stars veiled their face,
Like clouds of spring, the caravan took its pace.
Don't ask me what passed in the night of separation,
See now the plight of those who shared my grace.

Let a new garden bloom with a fresh spring's kiss,
If anyone can grasp the meaning of these hints.
Let me endure the moments of the dark night,
Don't, every hour, speak of the moon's glints.

No bud was wounded on the path of delight,
The caravan of spring flowed on, in its flight.
Today, on those paths, loneliness's dust does fly,
Which were once adorned by your footprints' light.

The world will forget me too, O 'Shahzad',
Who remembers the stars that have faded and died?