हस्ती अपनी हुबाब की सी है: ‘मीर’

हस्ती अपनी हुबाब1 की सी है ।

ये नुमाइश 2 सराब 3 की सी है ।।

नाज़ुकी उस के लब की क्या कहिए,

हर एक पंखुड़ी गुलाब की सी है ।

चश्म-ए-दिल खोल इस आलम पर,

याँ की औक़ात ख़्वाब की सी है ।

बार-बार उस के दर पे जाता हूँ,

हालत अब इज्तेराब4 की सी है ।

मैं जो बोला कहा के ये आवाज़,

उसी ख़ाना ख़राब 5 की सी है ।

‘मीर’ उन नीमबाज़ 6 आँखों में,

सारी मस्ती शराब की सी है ।

           1=Bubble,2= exhibition,3= mirage,4=anxiety,5=wretched person,6= half open

hastee apnee  Hubaab kee see hai

ye numa'ish suraab kee see hai

naazukee uss ke lab kee kya kahiye

paNkhaRee ik gulaab kee see hai

baar-baar us ke dar pe jaata hooN

Haalat ab iztiraab kee see hai

maiN jo bola kaha ke ye aawaaz

usee KHaanah-KHaraab kee see hai

Meer" un neem-baaz aaNkhoN meN

saaree mastee sharaab kee see hai

English Translation.

Our life (existence) is temporary (fragile) just like a bubble,

This exhibition (of the colorful world) is an illusion like mirage.

How can I express the softness of her lips,

They are just like rose petals.

I rush to her door again and again (in hope of having a glimpse of her),

My anxiety has reached its peak.

When she heard my voice, she said,

“This voice is just like the voice of that wretched man (the poet)”.

O Meer! The drowsiness in those dreamy eyes,

Is just like that of wine

Meer

Meer has been called the Imam (leader/pioneer) of Urdu shayari and this was accepted by the greatest Urdu poets. Shayars of the stature of NaasiKH, GHalib and Zauq used to call him Ustad as is evidenced by these shers:

rekhta ke tum hi ustaad nahiN ho "GHalib"
kahte haiN agle zamane meN koi Meer bhi thA [rekhta = Urdu]

Instead of using high-falutin' Faarsi, Meer would use a common and easy to understand style of narration which not only increased the simplicity and beauty of GHazal, but also magnified it's effect to an extent that would leave the listener spell-bound. He spent all his life like a wanderer in search of peace.